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Telstra giving free phones to elderly and remote

<p>With the 3G network set to shut down completely on August 31, Telstra announced that it will be giving 12,000 mobile phones away for free in a bid to help the most vulnerable customers switch to 4G. </p> <p>Starting from Tuesday, the telecommunications company will be issuing complimentary phones to customers who are elderly, live rurally or are facing difficult situations. </p> <p>These include those facing financial issues, recovering from natural disasters, or those who have a life-threatening medical condition and therefore rely on a working phone. </p> <p>Telstra have also identified those who live regionally or are over 80 years old and may require extra transition support, as they may have difficulty accessing a physical store to make the switch. </p> <p>Those who are flagged as eligible will be contacted by the telco company, and they are encouraging customers who receive the message to follow the instructions given to make the switch. </p> <p>Major Brendan Nottle from The Salvation Army has praised this initiative for helping the "most vulnerable members of our community."</p> <p>“Connection is one of the most important things to maintain in our society, whether it is with friends and family or with housing and support services,” he said.</p> <p>“Ensuring that every Australian, from any background or level of income, can take part in our modern digital society is crucial.</p> <p>“A phone can be a gateway to social inclusion, community connection and support, and with the upcoming closure of 3G networks in Australia it is important for us to reach out and ensure that this can continue for everyone.”</p> <p>Customers who are yet to upgrade are also told to make the switch sooner than later. </p> <p>Other devices that will be affected by the shutdown include certain smart watches, tablets, medical alarms, EFTPOS terminals and security monitors.</p> <p><em>Images: Shutterstock</em></p>

Money & Banking

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64-year-old man saved after crafting SOS symbol on remote island

<p>A sailor who found himself stranded on a remote island in the Bahamas due to his boat's mechanical issues has been successfully rescued after ingeniously attracting the attention of a passing plane.</p> <p>Recent aerial imagery provided by the US Coast Guard depicts the remarkable tale of a 64-year-old individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, crafting the letters "SOS" on the sandy expanse of the beach to signify his distress.</p> <p>The sailor's vessel had encountered mechanical failure during its voyage through the enchanting Bahamas archipelago, leaving him marooned for an arduous three-day stretch on Cay Sal Island.</p> <p>Prompted by the sighting of distress flares originating from a disabled sailboat, a vigilant coast guard aircraft sprang into action. Supplies including nourishment, water, and a radio for communication were air-dropped to establish a lifeline with the stranded sailor. Through this communication, he shared the details of his challenging ordeal.</p> <p>A coast guard ship was dispatched to retrieve the man, who remarkably remained in good health despite his trials.</p> <p>Cay Sal Island, an isolated landmass nestled within the Straits of Florida north of Cuba and west of the Bahamas, continues to stand as an uninhabited segment within the Bimini district of the Bahamas.</p> <p>Dev Craig, an officer within the coast guard, expressed a sense of pride in the team's accomplishment, stating, "We’re proud to have saved this man’s life. This case serves as a perfect example of why you must have the proper safety equipment on your vessel. Without seeing the flare, the case may not have had a successful outcome."</p> <p><em>Images: US Coast Guard</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Remote Scottish island hits the market

<p>If you’ve ever dreamt of escaping the rat race and living a life of complete isolation, then look no further.</p> <p>A remote island situated off the southern coast of Scotland, Carlocco Island is up for sale, priced at offers over £150,000 ($A280,317).</p> <p>“There’s still a very romantic sentiment attached to owning your very own Scottish private island, where you can escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy some peace and tranquillity in the most beautiful scenery around,” Aaron Edgar of Galbraith Group, the agent handling the sale, said in a statement.</p> <p>The nearest town is almost 10km away with the closest train station Dumfries an hour bus ride from that town. London is more than 563km away with Edinburgh over 160km away.</p> <p>With lush green grass and rocky outcrops reaching the sea, the island covers an area of around 10 hectares, but there are no buildings, only a flood pond providing water to livestock and wildlife in the colder months.</p> <p>According to the listing, no one has ever applied for permission to build on the island, so it would be up to the buyer to investigate any development possibilities with local authorities.</p> <p>At low tide, the island can be reached on foot, by tractor or quad bike. As for the rest of the time, a boat is required for travel, with a pebble beach for them to be anchored, “the perfect base to explore the island, partake in some cold water swimming…and enjoy a waterside picnic,” Edgar said.</p> <p>The island sits in a Site of Special Scientific Interest, an area in the UK defined as of particular interest due to the rare species of fauna and flora it’s home to, and is also a shelter for all types of wildlife, including great black-backed gulls, and rare plants like rock sea lavenders and fragrant orchids.</p> <p>Mr Edgar expects a lot of interest in the unique property, “We have witnessed strong demand from domestic and international parties for entire private islands, having handled the sale of several in Scotland,” he said.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Galbraith Group</em></p>

Real Estate

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Patch me up, Scotty! Remote surgery robot destined for ISS

<p>Strap yourself in so you don’t float away, select the required procedure, lie back and relax as your autonomous surgery robot patches you up from whatever space ailment bothers you. Sound far-fetched?</p> <p>Not according to Professor Shane Farritor, from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, who <a href="https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/husker-developed-surgery-robot-to-be-tested-aboard-international-space/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">has just received funding from NASA</a> to prepare his miniature surgical robot for a voyage to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2024.</p> <p>MIRA, which stands for “miniaturised in vivo robotic assistant” is comparatively little for a surgery-performing machine – small enough to fit inside a microwave-sized experimental locker within the ISS. The brainchild of Farritor and colleagues at the start-up company Virtual Incision, MIRA has been under development for almost 20 years.</p> <p>The ultimate aim for MIRA is to be able to perform surgery autonomously and remotely, which has far-reaching ramifications for urgent surgery in the field – whether that’s in the depths of space, a remote location or even <a href="http://bionics.seas.ucla.edu/publications/JP_11.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in a war-torn region</a>.</p> <p>Initially MIRA won’t go near anyone’s body. Once on the ISS, it will autonomously perform tasks designed to mimic the movements required for surgery, such as cutting stretched rubber bands and pushing metal rings along a wire.</p> <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p200559-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> <form class="wpcf7-form mailchimp-ext-0.5.62 spai-bg-prepared init" action="/health/remote-surgery-robot-destined-for-iss/#wpcf7-f6-p200559-o1" method="post" novalidate="novalidate" data-status="init"> <p style="display: none !important;"><span class="wpcf7-form-control-wrap referer-page"><input class="wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text referer-page spai-bg-prepared" name="referer-page" type="hidden" value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/" data-value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/" aria-invalid="false" /></span></p> <p><!-- Chimpmail extension by Renzo Johnson --></form> </div> </div> <p>Being autonomous is important as it won’t need to access bandwidth to communicate back to Earth.</p> <p>MIRA has already successfully completed surgery-like tasks via remote operation including a colon resection.</p> <p>Space is the next frontier.</p> <p>Farritor says, as people go further and deeper into space, they might need surgery. “We’re working toward that goal.”</p> <p>The stint on the ISS will not only mark the most autonomous operation so far, but it will also provide insight into how such devices might function in zero gravity.</p> <p>The dream goal is for MIRA to function entirely on its own, says Farritor. Just imagine: “the astronaut flips a switch, the process starts, and the robot does its work by itself. Two hours later, the astronaut switches it off and it’s done”.</p> <p>As anyone who has seen the scene in the movie, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue4PCI0NamI" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Martian</a>, can attest, it would certainly make pulling a wayward antenna spike out of yourself from within a deserted Martian habitat station far more comfortable.</p> <p><!-- Start of tracking content syndication. Please do not remove this section as it allows us to keep track of republished articles --></p> <p><img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=200559&amp;title=Patch+me+up%2C+Scotty%21+Remote+surgery+robot+destined+for+ISS" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><!-- End of tracking content syndication --></p> <div id="contributors"> <p><em><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/remote-surgery-robot-destined-for-iss/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/clare-kenyon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Clare Kenyon</a>. Clare Kenyon is a science writer for Cosmos. She is currently wrangling the death throes of her PhD in astrophysics, has a Masters in astronomy and another in education, and has classroom experience teaching high school science, maths and physics. Clare also has diplomas in music and criminology and a graduate certificate of leadership and learning.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p> </div>

Technology

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How feasible are EVs for remote Australia, really?

<p>It’s often assumed that <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/cosmos-briefing-electric-vehicles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-type="URL" data-id="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/cosmos-briefing-electric-vehicles/">electric vehicles (EVs)</a> aren’t practical in regional Australia – the distances are too big. But a new analysis casts doubt on this, suggesting that over 90% of Australians in remote northern communities could get to their nearest service hub town in a short-range EV – without stopping to charge once.</p> <p>The analysis, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00049182.2022.2086720" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> in <em>Australian Geographer,</em> looks at all of the remote communities in northern Australia (that is, everywhere north of the 28<sup>th</sup> parallel).</p> <p>“Electric vehicles shouldn’t be left in the too-hard basket. It’s an unequitable and unfair path forward if remote and regional communities are the last ones left driving diesel vehicles, especially as they will be some of the most impacted by catastrophic climate change” says co-author Dr Björn Sturmberg, a research leader in the Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program at the Australian National University.</p> <p>“Yes, the barriers are obvious – large distances, unsealed roads. But the benefits are equally obvious. It’s difficult and expensive to get diesel out to these communities, and electric engines are simpler and more robust than fuel engines.”</p> <p>The large-scale analysis looked at remote communities’ access to towns with populations over either 5,000, or 1,000.</p> <p>“The model of service delivery in all these communities, at a government infrastructure level, has been what they call a ‘hub and spoke model’ for quite a while now,” explains Sturmberg.</p> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="entry-content-asset"> <div class="embed-wrapper"> <div class="inner"><iframe title="Cosmos Shorts: How do electric vehicles compare to conventional vehicles?" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P7k0iIRVzUs?start=7&amp;feature=oembed" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> </div> </div> </div> </figure> <p>“We consider small service hubs of 1,000 people, or larger service hubs of over 5,000 people. Healthcare, banking, groceries or whatnot – those services are offered in these hubs, and members of remote communities drive to them.”</p> <p>The researchers examined whether towns of either 1,000+ or 5,000+ people were reachable by remote communities with either short-range EVs (336km), or long-range EVs (660km). This created four different scenarios.</p> <figure class="wp-block-table"> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td>Direct access to…</td> <td>Towns of 5,000+</td> <td>Towns of 1,000+</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Short-range vehicle (336 km)</td> <td>81%</td> <td>93%</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Long-range vehicle (660 km)</td> <td>95%</td> <td>&lt;99%</td> </tr> </tbody> </table><figcaption>Percentage of people in remote northern Australia who could access their nearest big town with an EV.</figcaption></figure> <p>They found that 81% of people in remote communities would be able to get to a town with a population of more than 5,000 in a short-range EV, without stopping to charge the car. An additional 15% of people would need only one charging stop to reach a big town.</p> <p>With long-range vehicles, 95% of the regional population would be able to make it to a town of over 5,000 directly, and 4% would need one stop.</p> <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p197221-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> <form class="wpcf7-form mailchimp-ext-0.5.62 spai-bg-prepared init" action="/technology/evs-remote-australia/#wpcf7-f6-p197221-o1" method="post" novalidate="novalidate" data-status="init"> <p style="display: none !important;"><span class="wpcf7-form-control-wrap referer-page"><input class="wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text referer-page spai-bg-prepared" name="referer-page" type="hidden" value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/" data-value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/" aria-invalid="false" /></span></p> <p><!-- Chimpmail extension by Renzo Johnson --></form> </div> </div> <p>But slightly smaller towns, with a population of 1,000 or more, were even more accessible. Over 93% of the regional population would be able to drive directly to such a town with a short-range vehicle, and just 0.3% of people would need to stop to charge more than once.</p> <p>Nearly everyone (99.7%) could get to a small town in a long-range vehicle, without stopping.</p> <p>Obviously, residents of these communities aren’t always headed to the nearest service town when they’re driving. But given that EVs can also be charged at houses and private buildings, Sturmberg says that travelling between these communities should also be feasible.</p> <p>The study is preliminary, and the researchers point out there is still a <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/energy/ev-policies-election-electric-vehicles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">range of barriers</a> to <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/the-norway-of-australia-what-does-good-electric-vehicle-policy-look-like/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EV uptake</a> in regional and remote Australia.</p> <p>“For example, we still don’t have clear data on the impact of unsealed roads or different conditions on the effective range of electric vehicles,” says co-author Dr Francis Markham, a research fellow at ANU’s Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research.</p> <p>“And information on the performance of electric vehicles in very hot conditions is still lacking. However, we are confident that electric vehicles do have a place in regional and remote Australia.”</p> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="entry-content-asset"> <div class="embed-wrapper"> <div class="inner"><iframe title="Cosmos Shorts: How to increase electric vehicles in Australia" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ygq3EzHsH0Q?feature=oembed" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> </div> </div> </div> </figure> <p>In their paper, the researchers say that more work should be done to investigate what residents of these communities want and need to make EVs a viable option for them.</p> <p>“I just really hope that this work motivates particularly the NT government, but also the governments of Queensland and Western Australia, to put some of their resources into charging infrastructure, and electric vehicle policies for remote communities, rather than just putting chargers along the tourist routes and highways,” says Sturmberg.</p> <p>“Community members should drive into these towns, do their shopping, have somewhere to charge up, and then be able to travel back.</p> <p>“That’s really what we need – particularly as most people are not going to be buying Teslas with ranges of 600km, but Nissan Leafs with ranges of 300km.”</p> <p><!-- Start of tracking content syndication. Please do not remove this section as it allows us to keep track of republished articles --></p> <p><img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=197221&amp;title=How+feasible+are+EVs+for+remote+Australia%2C+really%3F" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><!-- End of tracking content syndication --></p> <div id="contributors"> <p><em><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/evs-remote-australia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/ellen-phiddian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ellen Phiddian</a>. Ellen Phiddian is a science journalist at Cosmos. She has a BSc (Honours) in chemistry and science communication, and an MSc in science communication, both from the Australian National University.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p> </div>

Technology

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Inside Amber Heard's remote desert hideaway

<p>We've all learnt an awful lot about Johnny Depp and Amber Heard in light of the recent, very public trial.</p> <p>As the trial has <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/verdict-reached-in-depp-versus-heard-trial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reached its conclusion,</a> yet another interesting piece of information about Heard has made its way into the public domain.</p> <p>Reportedly, the 36-year-old actor confirmed in her opening testimony that she lives in a sleepy town called Yucca Valley, which is located in the beautiful Mojave Desert. The town is roughly 200-kilometres east of Los Angeles and the rural locale is not a place where you'll find many A-listers.</p> <p>The locale only has about 22,000 residents total, and it's known for its art culture, as well as its proximity to celebrated places like Joshua Tree, Coachella and Palm Springs.</p> <p>The house itself was purchased by Heard in 2019; however, property records show the abode was bought through a trust attached to Heard's accountant.</p> <p>Costing USD $570,000 ($795,000) at the time, the unique 2015-built residence hoasts three bedrooms, three bathrooms and sits on 24,281-square-metres of arid but beautiful land.</p> <p>Features include a large open-plan kitchen, living and dining area with vaulted ceilings, fireplace and floor to ceiling windows that no doubt provide Heard with exceptional views of the surrounding desert.</p> <p>Another distinct benefit of the property is a custom 34-metres bridge that enables occupants to cross a dried-up creek and access an elevated gazebo perched on a rocky hill.</p> <p>Although Heard purchased the property back in 2019, the mother-of-one only started living in the house earlier this year.</p> <p><em>Image: Domain</em></p>

Real Estate

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Airbnb unveils biggest changes in over a decade

<p dir="ltr">Airbnb has announced new ways to search for and book homes on the platform in response to the rise of remote work and the number of customers choosing longer stays.</p> <p dir="ltr">The new features include the ability to more easily divide trips between two homes when options for longer stays are limited. As well as a search tool that surfaces properties via specific categories, such as whether the house offers "creative spaces," a chef's kitchen or a pool.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The way people travel has changed forever," Brian Chesky, Airbnb's cofounder and CEO, said in a statement. Chesky touted the new features as "the biggest change to Airbnb in a decade."</p> <p dir="ltr">The updates come as Airbnb recently reported business was booming again after taking a hit from the pandemic. </p> <p dir="ltr">The company said nearly half of the nights booked on Airbnb in the last three months were for trips of a week or longer.</p> <p dir="ltr">Chesky suggested the new 'Split Stays' feature, which allows customers to book back-to-back stays at multiple homes in the same area, is intended to meet this shift in demand.</p> <p dir="ltr">Chesky said this new way to search comes after people have become "more flexible about where they live and work," a trend that Airbnb has also embraced by allowing its employees to "live and work anywhere."</p> <p dir="ltr">The company also announced bolstered travel protections for guests, which will be included for free with every booking.</p> <p dir="ltr">Known as 'AirCover' -  the protections offer users similar accommodations or refunds if their booking was cancelled, if they can't check into a home, or if the listing wasn't as advertised. Moreover, the company said customers will get access to a 24-hour safety line if they ever feel unsafe during their stay.</p> <p dir="ltr">The new way to search (dubbed 'Airbnb Categories'), lets users look for places to stay using 56 categories based on a home's style, including options for tiny homes and yurts, as well as location and proximity to a travel activity.</p> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8666666666666667; background-color: #ffffff; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; padding: -3pt 0pt 15pt 0pt;"><em>Image: Shutterstock </em></p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-3d033f17-7fff-ff6e-d629-ef586e50c1b3"></span></p>

Travel Tips

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Past policies have created barriers to voting in remote First Nations communities

<p>The rate of voter participation in federal elections by people living in remote Indigenous communities has been <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8497.2010.01552.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lower than the national average</a> since First Nations people were granted the right to vote in 1962. In recent years, the rate has been in <a href="http://doi.org/10.22459/DAER.05.2012;%20http://doi.org/10.25911/5df209771dd57" target="_blank" rel="noopener">decline</a>. Rates are lowest in the Northern Territory.</p> <p>The low rate of participation among First Nations people living in remote communities could affect the lower house election results in the Northern Territory seat of Lingiari. Warren Snowden has stepped down after 20 years holding the seat.</p> <p><strong>Determining rates of voter participation</strong></p> <p>Measuring the number of First Nations people (or any particular demographic group) who vote in federal elections is challenging. Electoral rolls do not include information about cultural identity. Census figures, which could be used as a basis for comparison against voter turnout rates, are imprecise.</p> <p>Data from the 2005 NT Assembly general election <a href="http://doi.org/10.22459/DAER.05.2012;%20https:/press.anu.edu.au/publications/directions-australian-electoral-reform" target="_blank" rel="noopener">show</a> voting rates were 20% lower in electorates with the highest Indigenous populations.</p> <p>In his study of the 2019 federal election, Australian National University researcher <a href="http://doi.org/10.25911/5df209771dd57" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Will Sanders</a> found</p> <blockquote> <p>perhaps only half of eligible Aboriginal citizens […] may be utilising their right to vote.</p> </blockquote> <p>Reports from the Northern Territory’s most recent Assembly election also found <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-21/poor-indigenous-voter-turnout-at-nt-election/12580688" target="_blank" rel="noopener">record low</a><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-15/coronavirus-impacting-on-remote-voter-turnout-nt-election/12559066">turnout</a> across Indigenous communities.</p> <p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8497.2010.01552.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Research</a> <a href="http://doi.org/10.25911/5df209771dd57" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shows</a> rates of informal votes are also higher in remote Indigenous communities.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">NLC accuses the Australian Electoral Commission of 'failing' Aboriginal voters [Matt Garrick, ABC]<br />Northern Territory land council has accused the AEC of failing Aboriginal people by not engaging more bush voters to have their say at the federal election.<a href="https://t.co/fCKRluGaoD">https://t.co/fCKRluGaoD</a> <a href="https://t.co/J3a04DyJJB">pic.twitter.com/J3a04DyJJB</a></p> <p>— First Nations Tgraph (@FNTelegraph) <a href="https://twitter.com/FNTelegraph/status/1514025685521952770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><strong>Barriers to First Nations people voting</strong></p> <p>Decisions made at the federal level over the last three decades appear to have provided significant obstacles to voting in some First Nations communities.</p> <p>First is the 1996 abolition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Election Education and Information Service.</p> <p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8497.2010.01552.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Two</a> <a href="http://doi.org/10.22459/DAER.05.2012;%20https:/press.anu.edu.au/publications/directions-australian-electoral-reform" target="_blank" rel="noopener">studies</a> point to this abolition as a potential reason for a decline in voting rates in remote Indigenous communities since the mid-nineties.</p> <p>Established in 1979, this service existed specifically to increase voter registration rates among First Nations people. This was done by, for example, providing voter education and election materials in Indigenous languages.</p> <p>The second decision was the 2005 abolition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.</p> <p>First Nations people participated in five of the Commission’s elections administered by the same Australian Electoral Commission responsible for federal elections. Although voting was voluntary, <a href="https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/41511/3/2003_DP252.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">analysis</a> shows participation was higher in northern and central Australia than in southern Australia.</p> <p>The third relevant policy change was the passage of the 2006 Electoral Integrity Bill. This introduced more stringent rules for the identification required to vote, making it more difficult for people in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8497.2010.01552.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">at least one remote community</a> to register to vote.</p> <p>The Morrison government’s unsuccessful 2021 proposal to introduce even tougher <a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7488468/govt-accused-of-trumpist-move-to-suppress-voting/?cs=14264" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voter identification laws</a> would likely <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/oct/27/proposed-voter-id-laws-real-threat-to-rights-of-indigenous-australians-and-people-without-homes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exacerbate this problem</a>.</p> <p>The fourth policy decision was a 2012 change to the Commonwealth Electoral Act, known as the “Federal Direct Enrolment and Update”.</p> <p>This enabled the Australian Electoral Commission to register eligible Australians to vote based on information available through several government agencies. These include Centrelink/the Department of Human Services, the Australian Taxation Office, and the National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information Service.</p> <p>But the Electoral Commission has <a href="http://doi.org/10.25911/5df209771dd57" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chosen not to use this mechanism for enrolment in parts of Australia</a> where mail is sent to a single community address (“mail exclusion areas”).</p> <p>This means people living in many remote communities are not automatically added to the electoral roll, unlike most of the rest of Australia.</p> <p>West Arnhem Regional Council mayor Matthew Ryan and Yalu Aboriginal Corporation chairman Ross Mandi launched an official complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commissioner over this issue in June last year.</p> <p>They <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-19/nt-voters-racial-discrimination-human-rights-commission/100227762" target="_blank" rel="noopener">argued</a> failure to apply the Federal Direct Enrolment and Update in remote communities represents a breach of the Racial Discrimination Act.</p> <p>A <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8497.2010.01552.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">survey</a> of residents in one remote community on South Australia’s APY lands found a lack of information contributed to low participation in elections.</p> <p>Obstacles included:</p> <ul> <li> <p>a lack of materials available in appropriate languages</p> </li> <li> <p>uncertainty about how to cast a formal vote</p> </li> <li> <p>problems related to literacy, and</p> </li> <li> <p>a lack of appropriate identification necessary to enrol.</p> </li> </ul> <p>In October last year, the Australian Electoral Commission announced new funding for its <a href="https://www.aec.gov.au/media/2021/10-28.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indigenous Electoral Participation program</a> with the aim of increasing enrolment rates; the upcoming election will show if the program is working.</p> <p><strong>Lingiari</strong></p> <p>Given that voting is compulsory in Australia, non-participation is a concern in any election. But these issues are likely to be particularly relevant in the 2022 federal election, at least in the seat of Lingiari.</p> <p>Lingiari covers all of the Northern Territory outside the greater Darwin/Palmerston area. So it is the one House of Representatives division where Indigenous Australians (many of them living in remote communities) have clear electoral <a href="http://doi.org/10.25911/5df209771dd57" target="_blank" rel="noopener">power</a>.</p> <p>Providing more mobile polling booths could help make voting easier for people in remote Indigenous communities. Currently, these booths can be present for as little as two hours during an entire election period.</p> <p>There is also <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8497.2010.01552.x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">evidence</a> Indigenous people are more likely to vote in elections for Indigenous candidates, and for candidates who have visited their community.</p> <p>Warren Snowden has represented the electorate since its creation in 2001, but he is not contesting this election; the seat is up for grabs.</p> <p>Indigenous people will determine who takes Snowden’s place. But how many of them vote may be limited by their ability to enrol, the availability of information in an appropriate language, and access a polling booth.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/181194/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/morgan-harrington-1207111" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Morgan Harrington</a>, Research Fellow, Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-national-university-877" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian National University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/past-policies-have-created-barriers-to-voting-in-remote-first-nations-communities-181194" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: The Australian Electoral Commision (<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/auselectoralcom/48720382352/in/album-72157710806573631/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Flickr</a>)</em></p>

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20 of the most remote places on earth

<p>Ever feel like leaving your life behind and going off to the most remote region of the world where no one knows your name? If you’re looking for solitude, these places have it.</p><p>Check out these remote places from around the world below.</p><p><strong>Easter Island, Chile</strong></p><p>Known for its more than one thousand Moai statues, Easter Island may be famous, but it’s remote – more than 3,200km away from modern civilisation. The statues were sculpted by the Rapa Nui people from volcanic rock between 1250 and 1500 AD.</p><p>The island’s three peaks, Terevaka, Poike and Rano Kau, are comprised of the same ancient lava and create a visually stunning landscape. Flights to and from Easter Island are limited, as are conveniences like air conditioning – but anyone who’s been will tell you it’s worth the trip.</p><p><strong>Longyearbyen, Norway</strong></p><p>This is one of the northernmost decent-sized towns on earth. In 1950, Longyearbyen passed a law that prohibited burial in this frigid region, due to the fact that the frozen ground would mummify corpses indefinitely.</p><p>There’s a running joke that it’s illegal to die in Longyearbyen; there also happens to be a law requiring locals to carry a gun for protection against polar bears. On the archipelago of Svalbard, this unique town’s 2,100 residents hail from a variety of countries.</p><p>Popular outdoor activities include kayaking, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and biking.</p><p><strong>Devon Island, Canada</strong></p><p>You know a place is desolate when NASA designates it for interstellar research. The space program has tested robots, spacesuits and vehicles here in preparation for a mission to Mars.</p><p>Part of the Queen Elizabeth Islands, Devon is the second largest in the group and is situated within the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, closer to Greenland than the heart of Canada.</p><p>The barren landscape guarantees you solitude – it’s even devoid of most animal life!</p><p><strong>Crescent Lake, China</strong></p><p>Want a true desert oasis? Plan a trip to the 2,000 years old Crescent Lake, a moon-shaped body of water in the Sahara Gobi Desert fed by natural springs.</p><p>A small, isolated town sits on the edge of the water, but since shuttle buses can bring visitors to the area, it’s one of the few easily accessible remote wonders.</p><p><strong>Danakil Depression, Ethiopia</strong></p><p>Danakil Depression is a crater in northeastern Ethiopia, where surreal landscapes composed of salt, acid pools, and sulphur compound surround one of the few known lava lakes in the world.</p><p>With scorching temperatures, it is the hottest place on earth, often referred to as “The Gateway to Hell.”</p><p><strong>Barra Island, Scotland</strong></p><p>Barra is the southernmost inhabited island in the Outer Hebrides. With a population barely of just more than 1,000, the 16km-long island has generous space to roam and explore.</p><p>Getting there requires boarding a tiny propeller plane that lands on the sandy beach; Barra’s runway disappears with changing tides, which dictates when visitors can come and go.</p><p>Needless to say, the flight is breathtaking.</p><p><strong>Apolima, Samoa</strong></p><p>Samoa is comprised of four islands, and Apolima is the smallest. Don’t let its size fool you, though. Apolima is bursting with breathtaking jungle foliage and surrounded by pristine blue water.</p><p>Travellers must negotiate with local families to arrange a stay, however, and a boat ride is your only way there.</p><p><strong>Tristan da Cunha</strong></p><p>This group of volcanic islands in the south Atlantic is a British overseas territory. While it rains a lot, the island is the perfect place to spot whales, dolphins, penguins and a diverse assortment of seabirds.</p><p>Intense isolation and beauty draw those in need of refuge from the world. Only 269 people reside on the island, making it the most remote island on earth – the nearest landmass is more than 2,414km away.</p><p><strong>Antarctica</strong></p><p>When you think of remote destinations, Antarctica has to be on the top of your list.</p><p>While the majority of tourism to Antarctica involves cruises to its periphery, there are opportunities for some intrepid explorers to visit the region, but strict guidelines must be followed to protect the environment and wildlife.</p><p><strong>The Kerguelen Islands, French Southern and Antarctic Lands</strong></p><p>Located in the super southern portion of the Indian Ocean, this freezing cluster of islands rarely get visitors, earning the main isle the title of Desolation Island.</p><p>If you have a thirst for arctic temperatures, you can get to this research station by ship.</p><p><strong>Siwa Oasis, Egypt</strong></p><p>North African culture is tightly preserved in Siwa, as it resides away from the rest of inhabited Egypt. Although it gets few visitors, the oasis is just five hours from Cairo in the Western Desert.</p><p>Two hundred springs feed the mud-brick village, and those who visit are in for a truly incredible experience of indigenous foods and ancient practices.</p><p><strong>Pitcairn Island, South Pacific</strong></p><p>There are just 50 people living on this gorgeous slice of paradise, despite the UK-territory offering free land to those who will become residents.</p><p>As a tropical destination, the island offers incredible snorkelling and sunbathing; however, there aren’t many jobs in Pitcairn for those looking to relocate.</p><p>At 4,828km from New Zealand, the island sits mostly empty. The clear surrounding ocean rivals the most beautiful island waters in the world.</p><p><strong>Tibetan Plateau, China</strong></p><p>Spreading over 2,500000 square kilometres, the Tibetan Plateau sits between the Kunlun Mountains and the Himalayas at an elevation of 3,960 to 4,570 metres.</p><p>Much of Asia’s water comes from this region, home to countless lakes and rivers. The plateau’s natives have continuously inhabited the area for more than 20,000 years, though only a small number remain.</p><p><strong>Socotra Island, Yemen</strong></p><p>Due to its peculiar landscape and oddly shaped foliage, Socotra is affectionately known as the “Alien island.”</p><p>It’s believed that the ocean once covered the land, resulting in its limestone foundation in which rare Dragon’s Blood trees have rooted. An unwritten language, known as Soqotri, is spoken among natives; immigrants of Arab, Somali, Greek, and South Asian descent also live in Socotra.</p><p>Though more people visit these days, the bizarre flora and fauna of the island will transport you to another world.</p><p><strong>Robinson Crusoe Island, Chile</strong></p><p>The largest island in the Chilean Juan Fernandez archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean is called Robinson Crusoe Island because of hundreds of years ago in 1704, sailor Alexander Selkirk was marooned for more than four years with limited tools before he was rescued.</p><p>Writer Daniel Dafoe, inspired by Alexander Selkirk’s survival on the island about 640km west of South America, wrote the novel, Robinson Crusoe.</p><p>Then, in 1966, the Chilean government renamed the island Robinson Crusoe Island.</p><p><strong>Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland</strong></p><p>Greenland’s most remote town Ittoqqortoormiit has 450 residents and only one grocery store.</p><p>Located on the East Coast, Ittoqqortoormiit was founded by settlers from Tasiilaq and West Greenland in 1925. It’s a sight for the midnight sun in summer and the northern lights in winter.</p><p><strong>Oymyakon, Russia</strong></p><p>There are few places colder and more remote than Oymyakon in Russia. This town has about 500 residents and is the coldest inhabited place on earth, where temperatures are -58 degrees on average.</p><p>In case you’re wondering how these residents deal with the cold, photographer Amos Chapple documented his experience in a photo series by exploring Oymyakon and Yakutsk, the nearby city with also cold temperatures.</p><p>Chapple told the Weather Channel that to survive the cold residents drink “Russki chai, literally Russian tea, which is their word for vodka.”</p><p><strong>Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar</strong></p><p>The ancient baobab trees on this dirt road path that connects Belo Tsiribihina and Morondava on the west coast of Madagascar are a sight to behold.</p><p>According to Atlas Obscura, legend has it that the trees look the way they do because “when Arab seafarers first visited a bit over 1,000 years ago, they said the devil ripped them out of the ground and put them back upside down, for their canopies resemble roots.”</p><p>If you can believe it, there was once a forest full of these trees but because of construction and the encroachment of modern life, the trees were cut back, leaving these final trees striking in their isolation.</p><p><strong>Tórshavn, Faroe Islands</strong></p><p>Tórshavn, named after Thor, the Norse god of thunder, is the capital of the Faroe Islands located and has a population of 20,500 people, making it one of the smallest capitals in the world.</p><p>The North Atlantic archipelago, with European-style cafes and culture of rich traditional Faroese ballads, is a blend of modern and historical experiences amidst the stunning landscape.</p><p><strong>Outer Hebrides, Scotland</strong></p><p>Located on Scotland’s west coast, the Outer Hebrides consists of more than 100 islands while only a handful is inhabited, including Lewis and Harris North Uist, and Benbecula.</p><p>A part of Scotland rich in Gaelic island culture, ancient history, and stunning views of land and sea, the Outer Hebrides is accessible yet remote enough to feel like a world of your own.</p><p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p><p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/destinations/20-of-the-most-remote-places-on-earth?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p>

International Travel

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We are professional fire watchers, and we’re astounded by the scale of fires in remote Australia right now

<p>While southern Australia experienced a wet winter and a soggy spring, northern Australia has seen the opposite. Extreme fire weather in October and November led to bushfires across <a href="https://firenorth.org.au/">120,000 square kilometres</a> of southern savanna regions.</p> <p>Significant fires continue to burn in the Kimberley, the Top End, Cape York and the northern deserts. And while recent rain across the central deserts has reduced the current fire risk, it will significantly increase fuel loads which creates the potential for large wildfires in summer.</p> <p>We are professional fire watchers. The lead author of this article, Rohan Fisher, <a href="https://firenorth.org.au/">maps and monitors</a> fires across the tropical savannas and rangelands that comprise 70% of the Australian continent. The scale of burning we’re now seeing astounds us – almost as much as the lack of interest they generate.</p> <p>This continent’s fire ecology is poorly understood by most Australians, despite recent significant bushfire events close to big cities. But as we enter the Pyrocene age under worsening climate change, good fire knowledge is vitally important.</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/435758/original/file-20211206-15-1szo1gh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="Indigenous man and child walk on burnt landscape" /> <span class="caption">On the Mitchell Plateau in Western Australia, a Kandiwal man and his child walk through country burnt by traditional fires. Such ancient methods must be expanded to help Australia survive the Pyrocene.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Philip Schubert/Shutterstock</span></span></p> <h2>In the desert, fire and water are linked</h2> <p>Fires in arid Australia are extensive, largely unmanaged, often destructive and significantly under-reported. Improving their management involvement is crucial to both Traditional Owners and the ecological health of our continent.</p> <p>To improve pyro-literacy, we developed a <a href="https://savannafiremapping.com/nafi-mobile-app/">mobile app</a> to map fires across most of Australia in real-time.</p> <p>This year, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-30/extreme-heatwave-to-hit-kimberley-and-the-pilbara/100658568">Western Australia</a> and the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-19/nt-heatwave-conditions-peak-record-temperatures-bom/100549312">Northern Territory</a> experienced serious heatwaves late in the year and a late start to the wet season. This provided the perfect bushfire conditions.</p> <p>In contrast, central Australia has experienced rare flooding rains, including at Alice Springs which recorded the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-13/alice-springs-wettest-november-on-record/100616212">wettest November</a> on record. This creates dangerous fuel loads heading into summer.</p> <p>In the desert, water and fire is coupled in both space and time. Fire burns where water flows, because that’s where fuel – in the form of vegetation – is heaviest.</p> <p>The below satellite image from the Pilbara illustrates this point. It shows the path of an arid-zone fire flowing like water along dry creeks and drainage lines.</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434382/original/file-20211129-15-q3vm4s.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /> <span class="caption">Arid-zone fire travelling along dry creeks and drainage lines.</span></p> <p>Where country is not managed for fire, it can lead to catastrophic outcomes.</p> <p>The incidence of previous fire also influences fire spread. Without the regular application of fire, large tracts of desert can accumulate heavy fuel loads, primed for ignition.</p> <p>Over a few months in 2011, our data show more than 400,000 square kilometres in central Australia burned – almost twice the size of Victoria. It was one of the <a href="https://austrangesoc.com.au/range-management-newsletter-12-2/#article_166">largest</a> single fire events in recent Australian history and coincided with the wet La Nina period in 2010-12.</p> <p>Watching from satellites in space, we mapped the spread of the fires in near-real time, as this video shows:</p> <p><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yJJPm0cUTJ4?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <span class="caption">A hot spot animation of the 2011 fire season in central Australia.</span></p> <h2>Fire management through time</h2> <p>For many thousands of years, Australia’s Indigenous people have skilfully burned landscapes to manage country. <a href="https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/management/fire/fire-and-the-environment/41-traditional-aboriginal-burning">Most fires</a> are relatively low-intensity or “cool” and do not burn large areas. This results in a <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-you-have-unfinished-business-its-time-to-let-our-fire-people-care-for-this-land-135196">fine-scale mosaic</a> of different vegetation types and fuel ages, reducing the chance of large fires.</p> <p>Researchers have <a href="https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20063159465">looked back in time</a> to provide insight into fire management as it once was. This was done using aerial photography taken in the 1940s and 1950s in preparation for missile testing at Woomera in South Australia.</p> <p>The below aerial photo from 1953 reveals a complex mosaic of burn patterns and burn ages – a result of fine-scale land management by Traditional Owners.</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434607/original/file-20211130-18-1x8y4pf.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /> <span class="caption">A 1953 aerial photo of the Western Desert showing a complex fine scale fire mosaic resulting from Indigenous burning​.</span></p> <p>But following the displacement of Indigenous people and the decline of traditional burning practices, fire regimes changed dramatically. The average fire size today is many orders of magnitude <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrew-Burbidge/publication/284776990_Evidence_of_altered_fire_regimes_in_the_Western_Desert_regime_of_Australia/links/565bca3508aeafc2aac62299/Evidence-of-altered-fire-regimes-in-the-Western-Desert-regime-of-Australia.pdf">greater</a> than those set under Aboriginal management.</p> <p>The change has been <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/wr/wr05032">implicated</a> in the decline and extinction of some mammals and plant species. One massive and fast-moving October fire in the Tanami desert – home to endangered bilbies – burned nearly 7,000 square kilometres over a few days, our data show.</p> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434379/original/file-20211129-25-ilvsxy.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="" /> <span class="caption">The massive and fast-moving Tanami desert fire burnt nearly 7,000 km2 over a few days.</span></p> <h2>Back to desert burning</h2> <p>Like everywhere on this continent, fire in our vast deserts must be well-managed. Getting people back on desert country to reintroduce complex fire mosaics is difficult work but will have <a href="https://www.publish.csiro.au/wf/wf20057">significant</a> benefits for both nature and Indigenous people.</p> <p>Challenges include building capacity amongst ranger groups and communities, overcoming legal and insurance hurdles and employing novel techniques to apply “cool” fires at a near-continental scale.</p> <p>The role of Indigenous ranger groups is critical here. Organisations such as <a href="https://10deserts.org/">10 Deserts</a> – a partnership between Indigenous and conservation organisations – are supporting desert fire work.</p> <p><a href="https://10deserts.org/committee/peter_murray/">Peter Murray</a> is chair of the 10 Deserts project and a Ngurrara Traditional Owner from the Great Sandy Desert. On the importance of this work, he says:</p> <blockquote> <p>Right now, we’re working on Indigenous “right way” cultural burning as a means of preventing wildfires. We’re developing dedicated male and female ranger teams to look after the land and develop tourism. And we’re encouraging traditional owners to return to the desert to share and exchange knowledge as well as collecting and storing that knowledge to pass onto younger generations.</p> </blockquote> <p><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/434611/original/file-20211130-27-1i2yotw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="Indigenous man burning country" /> <span class="caption">Indigenous rangers are crucial when caring for fire-prone landscapes.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa/Gareth Catt</span></span></p> <h2>Living in the Pyrocene</h2> <p>As climate change worsens, we’re now living in a global fire age dubbed <a href="https://www.stephenpyne.com/disc.htm">the Pyrocene</a>. This will bring challenges across the Australian continent.</p> <p>Throughout remote Australia, increasing extreme fire weather will see more severe bushfires. Good fire management in these landscapes is urgently needed. In the northern tropical savannas, Indigenous-led fire management at the landscape scale is already <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-worlds-best-fire-management-system-is-in-northern-australia-and-its-led-by-indigenous-land-managers-133071">producing</a> some of the worlds best fire management outcomes.</p> <p>The challenge is to introduce similar scales of fire management across our vast deserts. These regions are rich with nature and culture, and they deserve far more attention than they’ve received to date. <!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/172773/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rohan-fisher-976329">Rohan Fisher</a>, Information Technology for Development Researcher, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-darwin-university-1066">Charles Darwin University</a></em> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/neil-burrows-1295249">Neil Burrows</a>, Adjunct professor, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-western-australia-1067">The University of Western Australia</a></em></span></p> <p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-are-professional-fire-watchers-and-were-astounded-by-the-scale-of-fires-in-remote-australia-right-now-172773">original article</a>.</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Cleo Smith abduction not the first from remote campsite

<p dir="ltr">A story of an earlier attempted abduction from the campsite four-year-old Cleo Smith went missing from has emerged overnight, suggesting her disappearance may not be an isolated incident.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to a post that was made on a local Carnarvon chat page, a child was approached by a “male aged in his late 40s with a beard” who was driving a “small red car” at the Blowholes campsite in July 2014. The girl’s mother said that she reported the incident to police at the time.</p> <p dir="ltr">The mother wrote, “The man asked her if she would get in the car and go for a drive. “She said no and took off straight back to camp. Sorry I don’t have a better description as she was quite freaked out. The police have bn [sic] notified. Good time to remind our precious one [sic] of stranger danger.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Police believe Cleo was abducted from the campsite on October 16, after she disappeared from a tent she was sharing with her mother, stepfather and baby sister. When the family woke up at 6.30am, the tent’s zipper was open to a height little Cleo would have been unable to reach, and she was gone, along with her sleeping bag.</p> <p dir="ltr">Authorities do not consider Cleo’s family to be suspects, and they did not find evidence of a stalker during a<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/why-forensic-police-have-returned-to-cleo-smith-s-home" target="_blank">forensic search</a><span> </span>of the family home on Tuesday. The Western Australian government is<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/no-hesitation-wa-premier-announces-huge-reward-in-cleo-smith-search" target="_blank">offering a $1 million reward</a><span> </span>for any information that helps authorities find Cleo or leads to an arrest and conviction of any person or persons involved in her disappearance.</p> <p dir="ltr">Premier Mark McGowan said at the time the reward was announced, “All Western Australians’ thoughts are with Cleo’s family during what is an unimaginably difficult time. We’re all praying for a positive outcome.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We want to ensure police have everything they need to solve this case and that’s why my government has no hesitation in supporting police with this reward offer.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Facebook</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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This is the most remote place on Earth

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the most remote places on Earth is covered in glaciers, mountains, and fjords. South Georgia sits 1,400 km away from its nearest neighbour, the Falkland Islands, and can only be accessed by sea.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The island is permanently covered in ice and spans less than 4,000 square kilometres.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though only 15 to 30 people live on the island at any given time, South Georgia was once a vital part of the brutal whatling industry and was the whaling capital of the South Atlantic.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The island was first claimed for Great Britain by James Cook in 1775 and was noted for its abundant populations of seals.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">By the 1900s, South Georgia’s seals had been hunted to the brink of extinction and whaling became the new money-making industry: whaling.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">South Georgia’s first whaling station, Grytviken, in the island’s King Edward Cove has become the island’s main settlement, with a population mostly consisting of scientists and government officials.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now, all that remains of the station are rusting towers, warehouses, power plants, and hulking blubber and bone cookers. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The shore is lined with ships and boats in varying stages of collapse and the ground is covered in shards of whale bone.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the old whaling ships still remains, with its harpoon gun that helped it bring in as many as 14 whales in a single trip.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Initially, the whalers were primarily concerned with harvesting the blubber from their catches, but later regulatory changes forced them to use the whole animal.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The meat and bone-meal was sold as animal feed and fertiliser, but the real prize was whale oil.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The best oils went into food products like margarine and ice cream,” said Finlay Raffle, a curator at the site’s </span><a href="https://sgmuseum.gs/?title=South_Georgia_Museum"><span style="font-weight: 400;">museum</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. “The second grade went into soap and cosmetics, and the worst was used in industrial processes.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Demand for the substance skyrocketed during World War One and Two, as it was a source of glycerol used in the manufacture of explosives and lubricants for rifles.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At the peak of its production, 450 men would work 12-hour shifts, seven days a week at Grytviken, where temperatures can drop below -10C.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite its history of bloodshed and its impact on whale populations, South Georgia has become an unlikely model of conservation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area, one of the world’s biggest marine reserves, now protects more than one million square kilometres of the surrounding waters.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Seal populations have since recovered significantly: the island is home to 98 percent of the world’s Antarctic fur seals and about 50 percent of its elephant seals.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The island also hosts 30 million breeding pairs of seabirds and four species of penguin.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Images: South Georgia Island / Instagram</span></em></p>

International Travel

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Climate change is flooding the remote north with light – and new species

<p>At just over 14 million square kilometres, the Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest of the world’s oceans. It is also the coldest. An expansive raft of sea ice floats near its centre, expanding in the long, cold, dark winter, and contracting in the summer, as the Sun climbs higher in the sky.</p> <p>Every year, usually in September, the sea ice cover shrinks to its lowest level. The tally in 2020 was a meagre 3.74 million square kilometres, the second-smallest measurement in 42 years, and roughly half of what it was in 1980. Each year, as the climate warms, the Arctic is holding onto less and less ice.</p> <p>The effects of global warming are being felt around the world, but nowhere on Earth are they as dramatic as they are in the Arctic. The Arctic is warming two to three times faster than any other place on Earth, ushering in far-reaching changes to the Arctic Ocean, its ecosystems and the 4 million people who live in the Arctic.</p> <p>Some of them are unexpected. The warmer water is pulling some species further north, into higher latitudes. The thinner ice is carrying more people through the Arctic on cruise ships, cargo ships and research vessels. Ice and snow can almost entirely black out the water beneath it, but climate change is allowing more light to flood in.</p> <p><strong>Artificial light in the polar night</strong><br />Light is very important in the Arctic. The algae which form the foundation of the Arctic Ocean’s food web convert sunlight into sugar and fat, feeding fish and, ultimately, whales, polar bears and humans.</p> <p>At high latitudes in the Arctic during the depths of winter, the Sun stays below the horizon for 24 hours. This is called the polar night, and at the North Pole, the year is simply one day lasting six months, followed by one equally long night.</p> <p>Researchers studying the effects of ice loss deployed moored observatories – anchored instruments with a buoy — in an Arctic fjord in the autumn of 2006, before the fjord froze. When sampling started in the spring of 2007, the moorings had been in place for almost six months, collecting data throughout the long and bitter polar night.</p> <p>What they detected changed everything.</p> <p><strong>Life in the dark</strong><br />At that time, scientists assumed the polar night was utterly uninteresting. A dead period in which life lies dormant and the ecosystem sinks into a dark and frigid standby mode. Not much was expected to come of these measurements, so researchers were surprised when the data showed that life doesn’t pause at all.</p> <p>Arctic zooplankton — tiny microscopic animals that eat algae — take part in something called diel vertical migration beneath the ice and in the dead of the polar night. Sea creatures in all the oceans of the world do this, migrating to depth during the day to hide from potential predators in the dark, and surfacing at night to feed.</p> <p>Organisms use light as a cue to do this, so they shouldn’t logically be able to during the polar night. We now understand the polar night to be a riot of ecological activity. The normal rhythms of daily life continue in the gloom. Clams open and close cyclically, seabirds hunt in almost total darkness, ghost shrimps and sea snails gather in kelp forests to reproduce, and deep-water species such as the helmet jellyfish surface when it’s dark enough to stay safe from predators.</p> <p>For most of the organisms active during this period, the Moon, stars and aurora borealis likely give important cues that guide their behaviour, especially in parts of the Arctic not covered by sea ice. But as the Arctic climate warms and human activities in the region ramp up, these natural light sources will in many places be invisible, crowded out by much stronger artificial light.</p> <p><strong>Artificial light</strong><br />Almost a quarter of all land masses are exposed to scattered artificial light at night, as it’s reflected back to the ground from the atmosphere. Few truly dark places remain, and light from cities, coastlines, roads and ships is visible as far as outer space.</p> <p>Even in sparsely populated areas of the Arctic, light pollution is noticeable. Shipping routes, oil and gas exploration and fisheries extend into the region as the sea ice retreats, drawing artificial light into the otherwise inky black polar night.</p> <p>No organisms have had the opportunity to properly adapt to these changes – evolution works on a much longer timescale. Meanwhile, the harmonic movements of the Earth, Moon and Sun have provided reliable cues to Arctic animals for millennia. Many biological events, such as migration, foraging and breeding are highly attuned to their gentle predictability.</p> <p>In a recent study carried out in the high Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, between mainland Norway and the north pole, the onboard lights of a research vessel were found to affect fish and zooplankton at least 200 metres down. Disturbed by the sudden intrusion of light, the creatures swirling beneath the surface reacted dramatically, with some swimming towards the beam, and others swimming violently away.</p> <p>It’s difficult to predict the effect artificial light from ships newly navigating the ice-free Arctic will have on polar night ecosystems that have known darkness for longer than modern humans have existed. How the rapidly growing human presence in the Arctic will affect the ecosystem is concerning, but there are also unpleasant questions for researchers. If much of the information we’ve gathered about the Arctic came from scientists stationed on brightly lit boats, how “natural” is the state of the ecosystem we have reported?</p> <p>Arctic marine science is about to enter a new era with autonomous and remotely operated platforms, capable of operating without any light, making measurements in complete darkness.</p> <p><strong>Underwater forests</strong><br />As sea ice retreats from the shores of Greenland, Norway, North America and Russia, periods with open water are getting longer, and more light is reaching the sea floor. Suddenly, coastal ecosystems that have been hidden under ice for 200,000 years are seeing the light of day. This could be very good news for marine plants like kelp – large brown seaweeds that thrive in cold water with enough light and nutrients.</p> <p>Anchored to the sea floor and floating with the tide and currents, some species of kelp can grow up to 50 metres (175 feet) – about the same height as Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, London. But kelp are typically excluded from the highest latitudes because of the shade cast by sea ice and its scouring effect on the seabed.</p> <p>These lush underwater forests are set to grow and thrive as sea ice shrinks. Kelp are not a new arrival to the Arctic though. They were once part of the traditional Greenlandic diet, and polar researchers and explorers observed them along northern coasts more than a century ago.</p> <p>Some species of kelp may have colonised Arctic coasts after the last ice age, or spread out from small pockets where they’d held on. But most kelp forests in the Arctic are smaller and more restricted to patches in deeper waters, compared to the vast swathes of seaweed that line coasts like California’s in the US.</p> <p>Recent evidence from Norway and Greenland shows kelp forests are already expanding and increasing their ranges poleward, and these ocean plants are expected to get bigger and grow faster as the Arctic warms, creating more nooks for species to live in and around. The full extent of Arctic kelp forests remains largely unseen and uncharted, but modelling can help determine how much they have shifted and grown in the Arctic since the 1950s.</p> <p><strong>A new carbon sink</strong><br />Although large seaweeds come in all shapes and sizes, many are remarkably similar to trees, with long, trunk-like but flexible bodies called stipes. The kelp forest canopy is filled with the flat blades like leaves, while holdfasts act like roots by anchoring the seaweed to rocks below.</p> <p>Some types of Arctic kelp can grow over ten metres and form large and complex canopies suspended in the water column, with a shaded and protected understorey. Much like forests on land, these marine forests provide habitats, nursery areas and feeding grounds for many animals and fish, including cod, pollack, crabs, lobsters and sea urchins.</p> <p>Kelp are fast growers, storing carbon in their leathery tissue as they do. So what does their expansion in the Arctic mean for the global climate? Like restoring forests on land, growing underwater kelp forests can help to slow climate change by diverting carbon from the atmosphere.</p> <p>Better yet, some kelp material breaks off and is swept out of shallow coastal waters and into the deep ocean where it’s effectively removed from the Earth’s carbon cycle. Expanding kelp forests along the Earth’s extensive Arctic coasts could become a growing carbon sink that captures the CO₂ humans emit and locks it away in the deep sea.</p> <p>What’s happening with kelp in the Arctic is fairly unique – these ocean forests are embattled in most other parts of the world. Overall, the global extent of kelp forests is on a downward trend because of ocean heatwaves, pollution, warming temperatures, and outbreaks of grazers like sea urchins.</p> <p>Unsurprisingly, it’s not all good news. Encroaching kelp forests could push out unique wildlife in the high Arctic. Algae living under the ice will have nowhere to go, and could disappear altogether. More temperate kelp species may replace endemic Arctic kelps such as Laminaria solidungula.</p> <p>But kelp are just one set of species among many pushing further and deeper into the region as the ice melts.</p> <p><strong>Arctic invasions</strong><br />Milne Inlet, on north Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada, sees more marine traffic than any other port in Arctic Canada. Most days during the open-water period, 300-metre-long ships leave the port laden with iron ore from the nearby Mary River Mine. Between 71 and 82 ships pass through the area annually, most heading to — or coming from ports in northern Europe.</p> <p>Cruise ships, coast guard vessels, pleasure yachts, research icebreakers, cargo supply ships and rigid inflatable boats full of tourists also glide through the area. Unprecedented warming and declining sea ice has attracted new industries and other activities to the Arctic. Communities like Pond Inlet have seen marine traffic triple in the past two decades.</p> <p>These ships come to the Arctic from all over the world, carrying a host of aquatic hitchhikers picked up in Rotterdam, Hamburg, Dunkirk and elsewhere. These species — some too small to see with the naked eye — are hidden in the ballast water pumped into on-board tanks to stabilise the ship. They also stick to the hull and other outer surfaces, called “biofouling.”</p> <p>Some survive the voyage to the Arctic and are released into the environment when the ballast water is discharged and cargo loaded. Those that maintain their hold on the outer surface may release eggs, sperm or larvae.</p> <p>Many of these organisms are innocuous, but some may be invasive newcomers that can cause harm. Research in Canada and Norway has already shown non-native invasive species like bay and acorn barnacles can survive ship transits to the Arctic. This raises a risk for Arctic ecosystems given that invasive species are one of the top causes for extinctions worldwide.</p> <p><strong>Expanded routes</strong><br />Concern about invasive species extends far beyond the community of Pond Inlet. Around 4 million people live in the Arctic, many of them along the coasts that provide nutrients and critical habitat for a wide array of animals, from Arctic char and ringed seals to polar bear, bowhead whales and millions of migratory birds.</p> <p>As waters warm, the shipping season is becoming longer, and new routes, like the Northwest Passage and the Northern Sea Route (along Russia’s Arctic coast), are opening up. Some researchers expect a trans-Arctic route across the North Pole might be navigable by mid-century. The increased ship traffic magnifies the numbers and kinds of organisms transported into Arctic waters, and the progressively more hospitable conditions improve their odds of survival.</p> <p>Prevention is the number one way to keep invasive species out of the Arctic. Most ships must treat their ballast water, using chemicals or other processes, and/or exchange it to limit the movement of harmful organisms to new locations. Guidelines also recommend ships use special coatings on the hulls and clean them regularly to prevent biofouling. But these prevention measures are not always reliable, and their efficacy in colder environments is poorly understood.</p> <p>The next best approach is to detect invaders as soon as possible once they arrive, to improve chances for eradication or suppression. But early detection requires widespread monitoring, which can be challenging in the Arctic. Keeping an eye out for the arrival of a new species can be akin to searching for a needle in a haystack, but northern communities may offer a solution.</p> <p>Researchers in Norway, Alaska and Canada have found a way to make that search easier by singling out species that have caused harm elsewhere and that could endure Arctic environmental conditions. Nearly two dozen potential invaders show a high chance for taking hold in Arctic Canada.</p> <p>Among these is the cold-adapted red king crab, native to the Sea of Japan, Bering Sea and North Pacific. It was intentionally introduced to the Barents Sea in the 1960s to establish a fishery and is now spreading south along the Norwegian coast and in the White Sea. It is a large, voracious predator implicated in substantial declines of harvested shellfish, sea urchins and other larger, slow moving bottom species, with a high likelihood of surviving transport in ballast water.</p> <p>Another is the common periwinkle, which ruthlessly grazes on lush aquatic plants in shoreline habitats, leaving behind bare or encrusted rock. It has also introduced a parasite on the east coast of North America that causes black spot disease in fishes, which stresses adult fishes and makes them unpalatable, kills juveniles and causes intestinal damage to birds and mammals that eat them.</p> <p><strong>Tracking genetic remnants</strong><br />New species like these could affect the fish and mammals people hunt and eat, if they were to arrive in Pond Inlet. After just a few years of shipping, a handful of possibly non-native species have already been discovered, including the invasive red-gilled mudworm (Marenzellaria viridis), and a potentially invasive tube dwelling amphipod. Both are known to reach high densities, alter the characteristics of the seafloor sediment and compete with native species.</p> <p>Baffinland, the company that runs the Mary River Mine, is seeking to double its annual output of iron ore. If the expansion proceeds, up to 176 ore carriers will pass through Milne Inlet during the open-water season.</p> <p>Although the future of Arctic shipping remains uncertain, it’s an upward trend that needs to be watched. In Canada, researchers are working with Indigenous partners in communities with high shipping activity — including Churchill, Manitoba; Pond Inlet and Iqaluit in Nunavut; Salluit, Quebec and Nain, Newfoundland — to establish an invasive species monitoring network. One of the approaches includes collecting water and testing it for genetic remnants shed from scales, faeces, sperm and other biological material.</p> <p>This environmental DNA (eDNA) is easy to collect and can help detect organisms that might otherwise be difficult to capture or are in low abundance. The technique has also improved baseline knowledge of coastal biodiversity in other areas of high shipping, a fundamental step in detecting future change.</p> <p>Some non-native species have already been detected in the Port of Churchill using eDNA surveillance and other sampling methods, including jellyfish, rainbow smelt and an invasive copepod species.</p> <p>Efforts are underway to expand the network across the Arctic as part of the Arctic Council’s Arctic Invasive Alien Species Strategy to reduce the spread of invasive species.</p> <p>The Arctic is often called the frontline of the climate crisis, and because of its rapid rate of warming, the region is beset by invasions of all kinds, from new species to new shipping routes. These forces could entirely remake the ocean basin within the lifetimes of people alive today, from frozen, star-lit vistas, populated by unique communities of highly adapted organisms, to something quite different.</p> <p>The Arctic is changing faster than scientists can document, yet there will be opportunities, such as growing carbon sinks, that could benefit the wildlife and people who live there. Not all changes to our warming world will be wholly negative. In the Arctic, as elsewhere, there are winners and losers.</p> <p class="p1"><em>Written by Jørgen Berge. This article first appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/arctic-ocean-climate-change-is-flooding-the-remote-north-with-light-and-new-species-150157">The Conversation</a>.</em></p>

International Travel

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The rise of the brown nomads and tips on how to do it

<p>Grey Nomads are a stalwart of the outback campsite, but COVID has seen a surge in younger families hitting the road: the Brown Nomads. These are people whose interstate or overseas jaunts have been thwarted by closed borders, or who have been freed from the 9-to-5 grind and want to take the “work from anywhere” concept literally. However, while adventuring sounds fun, it doesn't always generate a secure income. Consider some good financial planning so you can enjoy the nomadic life <em>and</em> still maintain financial security.</p> <p><strong>Before the trip</strong></p> <p>The options for how to stretch finances depends on your specific circumstances. It's important to see a financial planner early on in this process, but there are a few general tips I can offer.</p> <p><u>Reduce debt.</u> Pay it down as much as you can and see if consolidation makes sense. Do not carry credit card debt into this adventure.</p> <p><u>Plan your income and expenses.</u> Income sources include savings, investment dividends, long service leave, redundancies, ongoing business, or profits from asset sales. Plan expenses, including buying your start-up gear. Many nomads budget for $1000 per week, but it varies. Once you know how much you'll need you can start planning where to take the funds from.</p> <p><u>Interrogate your tax and maximising options</u>. If you’ve received a lump sum and want to use it to kick start your nomadic life, there may be some tax-efficient ways to stretch this amount. Consider various strategies, including a variety of superannuation strategies, consider paying down debt and investing in the name of the partner who didn’t earn an income, or earned less.</p> <p><u>Time your trip to suit your finances</u>. Are there are any benefits to going this or next financial year based on your circumstances?</p> <p><u>Get your financial foundations in place</u>. There are a few things you’ll need to get right as a basis for any secure financial future. These include having an emergency fund, creating a spending plan, getting the right insurances, optimising all aspects of superannuation including fees and investments inside, and having an up to date estate plan.</p> <p><strong>On the trip</strong></p> <p>Now you’ve hit the road and money is flying out the door and not so much is flying back in.</p> <p><u>Review your tax</u>. With the income changes there may be tax incentives you are now eligible for. You could make a spousal superannuation contribution, which will reduce your tax bill. You may also be eligible for the Family Tax Benefit.</p> <p><u>Manage your income streams.</u> Are you relying on income from dividends, term deposits that pay interest or rental income? Should you be? Any income linked to investments can change. Make sure you have enough money parked somewhere to see you through.</p> <p><u>Spend less money. </u>It sounds obvious, but in my experience, people spend what they have. I’ve had clients go from spending $200,000 per year to $40,000 after switching to a nomadic life for a year. When you aren’t in the ‘rat race’ you’ll be surprised how much joy life gives you for free and all the expenses you no longer have.</p> <p><u>Use the nomad community</u>. Experienced nomads will tell you their biggest expense is usually fuel. Find the cheapest with apps like Fuel Map Australia. Second to fuel is accommodation. WikiCamps Australia is one of many apps that has information about sites, including where the free ones are.</p> <p>Packing up and hitting the road does not have to cripple you financially. If you set yourself up right and plan well, you could have the adventure of a lifetime while you’re young, fit and healthy and return to a solid financial foundation.</p> <p>Helen Baker is a licensed Australian financial adviser and author of two books:  <em style="font-weight: bold;">On Your Own Two Feet – Steady Steps to Women’s Financial Independence</em> and On<em style="font-weight: bold;"> Your Own Two Feet Divorce – Your Survive and Thrive Financial Guide</em>.  <em style="font-weight: bold;">Proceeds from the books’ sales are donated to charities supporting disadvantaged women.  </em>Helen is among the 1% of financial planners who holds a master’s degree in the field. Find out more at <a href="http://www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au"><strong>www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au</strong></a></p> <p><strong><em>Note this is general advice only and you should seek advice specific to your circumstances.</em></strong></p>

International Travel

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Now's your chance to own a ghost town in remote WA, deserted 70 years ago

<p><span>Urban explorers and the paranormal curious, listen up — you could soon the be proud owner on an entire abandoned town in remote Western Australia.</span></p> <p><span>The former township of Cossack, on the coast, is now up for sale after laying abandoned for 70 years.</span></p> <p><span>The ghost town, established in 1863, was once a thriving hub for the pearling industry, located on the Butchers Inlet.</span><span></span></p> <p><span>However over time, the population left to be absorbed into larger towns, eventually deserting the area completely.</span></p> <p><span>Today, Cossack's historic buildings all lay abandoned, trapped in an eerie timewarp.</span></p> <p><span>Tourists pass through, using the nearby hiking trails and paying a visit to the beautiful beaches — the town is surrounded by a coastal reserve.</span></p> <p><span>As well as 12 historic buildings and nearby Jarman Island, the town boasts archaeological sites dating back to the 1870s, some of which contain evidence of the impact of European settlement on the Aboriginal communities.</span></p> <p><span>The WA Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage are seeking buyers with proposals that will bring social and economic benefits to the region, so the idyllically-located town may just be a future tourism hotspot.</span><span>While no price tag has been assigned to the town, proposals that prioritise innovative low-impact tourism ventures will be top of the list, with things like eco accommodations, camping, dining venues, museums and galleries that will help support the regeneration of the town among the governement's criteria.</span></p> <p><span>Those keen to place a bid can do so before November 20, at 2pm, with proposals and registrations of interest to go to LJ Hooker Commercial Perth.</span></p> <div class="styles__Wrapper-sc-2o34ro-0 cmwkBV"> <div class="styles__Column-sc-2o34ro-3 jJDKrX"> <p class="p1"><em>Written by Katherine Scott. This article first appeared on <a href="https://travel.nine.com.au/latest/a-wa-ghost-town-deserted-70-years-ago-is-now-on-sale/44e8a83b-18fc-4c23-b84b-cfe9cd84b150">Honey</a>.</em></p> </div> </div>

Domestic Travel

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Remote-work visas will shape the future of work, travel and citizenship

<p>During lockdown, travel was not only a distant dream, it was unlawful. Some even <a href="https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-chance-to-reshape-how-we-travel-134764">predicted</a> that how we travel would change forever. Those in power that broke travel bans <a href="https://theconversation.com/could-the-dominic-cummings-affair-damage-boris-johnson-in-the-long-term-heres-what-history-tells-us-139514">caused scandals</a>. The empty skies and <a href="https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-should-give-us-hope-that-we-are-able-to-tackle-the-climate-crisis-133174">hopes</a> that climate change could be tackled were a silver lining, of sorts. COVID-19 has certainly made travel morally divisive.</p> <p>Amid these anxieties, many countries eased lockdown restrictions at the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-532061480">exact time</a> the summer holiday season traditionally began. Many avoided flying, opting for staycations, and in mid-August 2020, global flights were <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1104036/novel-coronavirus-weekly-flights-change-airlines-region/">down 47%</a> on the previous year. Even so, hundreds of thousands still holidayed abroad, only then to be caught out by sudden quarantine measures.</p> <p>In mid-August for example, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53773914">160,000 British holiday makers</a> were still in France when quarantine measures were imposed. On August 22, Croatia, Austria, and Trinidad and Tobago were added to the UK’s <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53871078">quarantine list</a>, then Switzerland, Jamaica and the Czech Republic <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53937997">the week after</a> – causing continued confusion and panic.</p> <p>This insistence on travelling abroad, with ensuing rushes to race home, has prompted much <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/europe-travel-coronavirus/2020/08/20/a426b6e4-e23e-11ea-82d8-5e55d47e90ca_story.html">tut-tutting</a>. Some have predicted travel and tourism may cause winter lockdowns. Flight shaming is already a <a href="https://theconversation.com/flight-shaming-how-to-spread-the-campaign-that-made-swedes-give-up-flying-for-good-133842">cultural sport</a> in Sweden, and vacation shaming has even become <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/europe-travel-coronavirus/2020/08/20/a426b6e4-e23e-11ea-82d8-5e55d47e90ca_story.html">a thing</a> in the US.</p> <p>Amid these moral panics, Barbados has reframed the conversation about travel by launching a “<a href="https://www.barbadoswelcomestamp.bb/">Barbados Welcome Stamp</a>” which allows visitors to stay and work remotely for up to 12 months.</p> <p>Prime Minister Mia Mottley explained the new visa has been prompted by COVID-19 making short-term visits difficult due to time-consuming testing and the potential for quarantine. But this isn’t a problem if you can visit for a few months and work through quarantine with the beach on your doorstep. This trend is rapidly spreading to other countries. <a href="https://forms.gov.bm/work-from-bermuda/">Bermuda</a>, <a href="https://e-resident.gov.ee/nomadvisa/">Estonia</a> and <a href="https://stopcov.ge/en/News/Article/Gov't_to_allow_int'l_citizens_to_work_remotely_from_Georgia">Georgia</a> have all launched remote work-friendly visas.</p> <p>I think these moves by smaller nations may change how we work and holiday forever. It could also change how many think about citizenship.</p> <p><strong>Digital nomads</strong></p> <p>This new take on visas and border controls may seem novel, but the idea of working remotely in paradise is not new. <a href="https://theconversation.com/digital-nomads-what-its-really-like-to-work-while-travelling-the-world-99345">Digital nomads</a> - often millennials engaged in mobile-friendly jobs such as e-commerce, copywriting and design - have been working in exotic destinations for the last decade. The <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/features/11597145/Living-and-working-in-paradise-the-rise-of-the-digital-nomad.html">mainstream press</a> started covering them in the mid-2010s.</p> <p>Fascinated by this, I started <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40558-020-00172-4">researching</a> the digital nomad lifestyle five years ago – and haven’t stopped. In 2015, digital nomads were seen as a niche but rising trend. Then COVID-19 paused the <a href="https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/has-covid-19-ruined-the-digital-nomad-ecf6772afda2">dream</a>. Digital nomad Marcus Dace was working in Bali when COVID-19 struck. His travel insurance was invalidated, and he’s now in a flat near Bristol wondering when he can travel.</p> <p>Dace’s story is common. He told me: “At least 50% of the nomads I knew returned to their home countries because of <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/">CDC</a> and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-office">Foreign Office</a> guidance.” Now this new burst of visa and border policy announcements has pulled digital nomads back into the <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-to-be-a-digital-nomad-and-work-remotely-while-travelling-the-world-vn09rd7j6">headlines</a>.</p> <p>So, will the lines between digital nomads and remote workers <a href="https://theconversation.com/five-workplace-trends-will-shape-life-after-lockdown-138077">blur?</a> COVID-19 might still be making international travel difficult. But remote work – the other foundation of digital nomadism – is now firmly in the mainstream. So much so that remote work is considered by many to be <a href="https://theconversation.com/remote-working-the-new-normal-for-many-but-it-comes-with-hidden-risks-new-research-133989">here to stay</a>.</p> <p>Before COVID-19, office workers were geographically tethered to their offices, and it was mainly business travellers and the lucky few digital nomads who were able to take their work with them and travel while working. Since the start of the pandemic, many digital nomads had to work in a single location, and office workers have become remote workers – giving them a glimpse of the digital nomad lifestyle.</p> <p>COVID-19 has upended other old certainties. Before the pandemic, digital nomads would tell me that they <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40558-020-00172-4">despised</a> being thought of as tourists. This is perhaps unsurprising: tourism was viewed as an escape from work. And other established norms have toppled: homes became offices, <a href="https://theconversation.com/after-coronavirus-how-seasonal-migration-and-empty-centres-might-change-our-cities-139439">city centres emptied</a>, and workers looked to <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/press-centre/village-enquiries-double-as-city-dwellers-escape-to-the-country/">escape to the country</a>.</p> <p>Given this rate of change, it’s not such a leap of faith to accept tourist locations as remote work destinations.</p> <p><strong>A Japanese businessman predicted this</strong></p> <p>The idea of tourist destinations touting themselves as workplaces is not new. Japanese technologist <a href="https://ethw.org/Tsugio_Makimoto">Tsugio Makimoto</a> <a href="https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Digital+Nomad-p-9780471974994">predicted</a> the digital nomad phenomenon in 1997, decades before millennials Instagrammed themselves working remotely in Bali. He prophesied that the rise of remote working would force nation states “to compete for citizens”, and that digital nomadism would prompt “declines in materialism and nationalism”.</p> <p>Before COVID-19 – with populism and nationalism <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-new-right-how-a-frenchman-born-150-years-ago-inspired-the-extreme-nationalism-behind-brexit-and-donald-trump-117277">on the rise</a> – Makimoto’s prophecy seemed outlandish. Yet COVID-19 has turned <a href="https://theconversation.com/overtourism-a-growing-global-problem-100029">over-tourism</a> into under-tourism. And with a growing list of countries launching schemes, it seems nations are starting to “compete” for remote workers as well as tourists.</p> <p>The latest development is the Croatian government discussing a <a href="https://www.total-croatia-news.com/lifestyle/45869-croatian-bureaucracy-2-0">digital-nomad visa</a> – further upping the stakes. The effects of these changes are hard to predict. Will local businesses benefit more from long-term visitors than from hordes of cruise ship visitors swarming in for a day? Or will an influx of remote workers create Airbnb hotspots, <a href="https://qz.com/quartzy/1574182/ahead-of-its-ipo-what-even-is-airbnb-anymore/">pricing locals out</a> of popular destinations?</p> <p><strong>It’s down to employers</strong></p> <p>The real question is whether employers allow workers to switch country. It sounds far-fetched, but Google staff can already work remote until <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2020/08/21/salesforce-joins-google-and-facebook-in-extending-work-from-home-to-next-summer/">summer 2021</a>. Twitter and 17 other companies have <a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/354872">announced</a> employees can work remotely indefinitely.</p> <p>I’ve interviewed European workers in the UK during COVID-19 and some have been allowed to work remotely from home countries to be near family. At Microsoft’s <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/event/new-future-of-work/">The New Future of Work</a> conference, it was clear that most major companies were mobilising task forces and would launch <a href="https://theconversation.com/remote-working-is-here-to-stay-but-that-doesnt-mean-the-end-of-offices-or-city-centres-145414">new flexible working policies</a> in autumn 2020.</p> <p>Countries like Barbados will surely be watching closely to see which companies could be the first to launch employment contracts allowing workers to move countries. If this happens, the unspoken <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_contract#:%7E:text=The%20theory%20of%20an%20implicit,legitimacy%20to%20such%20a%20government">social contract</a> between employers and employees - that workers must stay in the same country – will be broken. Instead of booking a vacation, you might be soon booking a workcation.</p> <p><em>Written by Dave Cook. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/remote-work-visas-will-shape-the-future-of-work-travel-and-citizenship-145078">The Conversation.</a> </em></p> <p><em> </em></p>

Cruising

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Australia’s best kept secret: 4 reasons why you must visit this remote island paradise

<p>When you think of Australia, many sights come to mind. Whether it’s the Harbour Bridge or Uluru, most Australians feel as if they’ve uncovered every inch of the secluded island. But what if there’s more? What if there’s a small island paradise in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that sits outside mainstream Australia? While it may sound too good to be true, the tiny territory by the name of Norfolk Island is one that needs to be seen to be believed.</p> <p>With lush greenery spanning over the 8km by 5km island, the people of Norfolk are considered to be some of the friendliest in the world. Surrounded by pristine waters and untouched natural beauty, the island is the closest thing to heaven on earth. Located between Australia and New Zealand, the preserved territory is home to rich culture and history, making it a journey one would never forget. But while you may have already started packing your bags, it’s important to book your travel with those who have a close relationship with the people of Norfolk Island. <span><a href="https://spacificatravel.com/destination/norfolk-island?utm_source=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT&amp;utm_medium=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT&amp;utm_campaign=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT&amp;utm_term=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT&amp;utm_content=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT">Spacifica Travel</a></span> will provide you with the best accommodation operators, tour guides and vendors so you can truly immerse yourself in the experience of visiting Norfolk Island.</p> <p>But before you book, here are four reasons why Norfolk Island is Australia’s best kept secret:</p> <p><strong>1. The island is a nature lover’s dream destination</strong></p> <p>One of the things that makes Norfolk Island unique is the strict laws to protect the native flora and fauna on the island. With 40 different plant species, and not a snake or fruit fly in sight, when you visit the intimate island you get to experience the beauty of mother nature in its purest form. The island is also home to the Norfolk Pine, which – as the name suggests – claims Norfolk Island as its home. You will also find enormous cliffs with panoramic views of the ocean and rainforests that rival the amazon.</p> <p><strong>2. It’s the perfect place to unwind</strong></p> <p>We all need to switch off from time to time, whether that’s stepping away from your phone or just letting go of your responsibilities for a few days. Norfolk Island is perfect for those who want to be present and live in the moment. The serene atmosphere and the diverse amount of experiences on offer will make you forget about the outside world and allow you to seclude yourself from the distractions of your day-to-day life.</p> <p>With delicious cuisines and stunning landscapes, Norfolk Island is the ideal place to experience true relaxation while also creating everlasting memories, ensuring that when you go back home, you start off fresh and on a brand-new page.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 500px; height: 332.70676691729324px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7823263/ni2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/2569484d260044ffbe95777d033b3370" /></p> <p><strong>3. The journey is hassle-free</strong></p> <p>Despite Norfolk Island being a tiny volcanic outcrop away from mainland Australia, the territory is still a part of the country, meaning as an Aussie, there’s no need for visas or a passport, and the flight is short and sweet.</p> <p>Norfolk Island is the best place to getaway when you want to pack your bags and head out the door. It’s also a completely unique experience, as the island’s natural habitat is extremely different to that of Australia. So, if you’re looking for a home away from home, but still prefer to explore a location you haven’t seen before, then this underrated town is only a few hours away.</p> <p><span><a href="https://spacificatravel.com/destination/norfolk-island?utm_source=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT&amp;utm_medium=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT&amp;utm_campaign=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT&amp;utm_term=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT&amp;utm_content=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT">Spacifica Travel</a></span> offers a range of packages to suit you and your budget, and to keep everything hassle free, they provide you with flights, transfers, accommodation, car hire and tours so that the only thing you need to worry about is having a good time.</p> <p><strong>4. It’s a World Heritage Site</strong></p> <p>The intimate island is home to rich history involving the convict settlement and is also the only site in Australia that displays evidence of early Polynesian settlement. The Kingston and Arthurs Vale Historic Area (KAVHA) was listed on the World Heritage list in 2010 for its historical significance.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="width: 500px; height: 327.01421800947867px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7823262/ni1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/875772f76d1f4247ae63ff7d8d8b3ffb" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Old Prison Kingston</em></p> <p>KAVHA is one of 11 Australian Convict Sites and is located on the southern side of Norfolk Island. It is made up of a number of buildings from the convict era and is surrounded by picturesque views, much like the rest of the island. The town provides plenty of resources for those wanting to delve deep into the history of Australian settlement and is home to numerous museums that will help expand your knowledge.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XBu3_LeLyvQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>You’re most likely packing your bags already and heading out the door! But before you do, make sure you check out <span><a href="https://spacificatravel.com/destination/norfolk-island?utm_source=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT&amp;utm_medium=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT&amp;utm_campaign=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT&amp;utm_term=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT&amp;utm_content=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT">Spacifica Travel’s</a></span> package deals for huge savings and more information on exactly where you need to go when visiting Norfolk Island.</p> <p>Each package can be tailored to your needs, whether you want to extend your stay or upgrade your flights, <span><a href="https://spacificatravel.com/destination/norfolk-island?utm_source=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT&amp;utm_medium=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT&amp;utm_campaign=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT&amp;utm_term=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT&amp;utm_content=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT">Spacifica Travel</a></span> works with you to provide you with a memorable experience.</p> <p><em>T</em><em>his is sponsored content brought to you in conjunction with <span><a href="https://spacificatravel.com/destination/norfolk-island?utm_source=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT&amp;utm_medium=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT&amp;utm_campaign=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT&amp;utm_term=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT&amp;utm_content=Over%2060%20Digital%20Campaign%20-%20NLK%20FEB19%20-%20NATIVE%20CONTENT">Spacifica Travel</a></span>.</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Te Ariki Nui: A luxury lodge in the remote wilderness of New Zealand’s Wanaka

<p><strong><em>Justine Tyerman comes across a 'talking landscape' on the outskirts of Wanaka in the South Island of New Zealand. </em></strong></p> <p>I’ve made the pilgrimage to Wanaka hundreds of times since the days of my youth and we’ve always stayed within sight of the lake.</p> <p>The panorama of Lake Wanaka is without doubt magnificent but it’s a busy, bossy view which demands to be looked at all the time – jet boats, para-gliders, water skiers, kayakers, rowers and swimmers. The lake is seldom quiet and even when it is, it exerts a magnetic force that compels one to watch it. Hours can be lost just gazing at its changing moods from satin smooth to grey and stormy.</p> <p>But on this occasion, we needed a quiet hideaway to prepare for a family wedding, a place far enough away from the lake and the township to ensure privacy and deter well-meaning friends from ‘just popping in’. </p> <p>On the outskirts of town, we found Te Ariki Nui, an idyllic, peaceful rural retreat surrounded by the wild and rugged Central Otago landscape I’ve loved since my childhood days. Mountain ranges gouged by ancient glaciers, tussocks flattened by the wind and the snow, sweet-smelling pastel-hued lupins growing wild along the roadsides, sun-ripened sweet apricots and tart green gooseberries, lizards basking on the warm schist rocks, the shimmering dry heat of the Central Otago sun,  pink sunrises and golden sunsets, the long dark shadows cast by the late afternoon sun . . .</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-14499 no-display appear lazyloaded" src="https://travelmemo-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Te-ariki-nui-wanaka-landscape.jpg" alt="Te Ariki Nui Wanaka New Zealand" width="500" height="NaN" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Te Ariki Nui sits light and low on the landscape, recessed into a shallow gully.</em></p> <p>We were only 10 minutes from Wanaka but Te Ariki Nui felt like a luxury lodge in a remote wilderness. Apart from invited guests, we saw no other human beings. Our only neighbours were the sociable alpacas in the paddock next door and a large family of bobtail rabbits. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-14502 no-display appear lazyloaded" src="https://travelmemo-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/wanaka-alpacas.jpg" alt="Alpacas in Wanaka New Zealand" width="500" height="NaN" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>The alpacas feeling the chill after a mid-summer snow storm.</em></p> <p>Te Ariki Nui exceeded all our expectations. Designed by award-winning architect Paul Clarke and runner-up in the 2005 New Zealand Home &amp; Entertaining Home of the Year Award,it is the Wanaka home of New Zealand fashion icon Robyn Hall.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-14498 no-display appear lazyloaded" src="https://travelmemo-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Te-ariki-nui-wanaka-hollow.jpg" alt="Te Ariki Nui Wanaka New Zealand, photo by Simon Darby" width="500" height="NaN" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Te Ariki Nui is nestled in a hollow surrounded by 4 hectares of land on the outskirts of Wanaka.</em><br /><em> Image credit: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a rel="noopener" href="http://www.wanakaphotography.co.nz/" target="_blank">Simon Darby Photography</a></strong></span></em></p> <p>The long, low concrete, glass and timber house sits quietly in its surroundings, allowing the landscape to take centre stage.</p> <p>I loved the simple, clean lines of the house – the dull sheen of the natural polished concrete floors, the warm glow of the tall beech doors and cabinetry against a predominantly white palette, the floor-to-ceiling glass walls, and the minimal adornment.</p> <p>“The landscape does the talking,” as Hall says.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-14489 no-display lazyloaded appear" src="https://travelmemo-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/te-ariki-nui-interior.jpg" alt="Te Ariki Nui Wanaka New Zealand" width="500" height="NaN" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>The interior has minimal adornment allowing “the landscape to do the talking”, as the owner says.</em></p> <p>Four bedrooms and three bathrooms including a lovely detached, self-contained studio provided ample private space for eight of us while the large open-plan kitchen, dining and living area was perfect for family dinners and socialising.</p> <p>The kitchen was equipped with every imaginable high-end appliance and utensil along with a generous array of pantry essentials.</p> <p>The massive floor-to-ceiling glass walls on both sides of the house slid aside to unite inside and outside living areas. Double-glazing, underfloor heating and a raised gas fireplace in the lounge would make Te Ariki Nui super-cosy in winter.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-14491 no-display lazyloaded appear" src="https://travelmemo-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/te-ariki-nui-living-area.jpg" alt="Te Ariki Nui Wanaka New Zealand" width="500" height="NaN" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>The massive floor-to-ceiling glass walls allow the ultimate in inside-outside living. Image credit:  Simon Darby Photography</em></p> <p>The luxurious master bedroom at the far end of the house had an Agape tear-shaped bath by the window where you could bathe while communing with nature.</p> <p><em style="text-align: center;"> </em><img style="text-align: center;" class="size-full wp-image-14487 no-display appear lazyloaded" src="https://travelmemo-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/te-ariki-nui-bathroom.jpg" alt="Te Ariki Nui Wanaka New Zealand" width="500" height="NaN" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>The Agape tear-shaped bath by the floor-to-ceiling windows in the master bedroom. Image credit: Simon Darby Photography</em></p> <p>The bathrooms in the main part of the house featured glass-walled showers and unencumbered views of the landscape through full-height windows.</p> <p>An impressive gabion wall made with stones smoothed by the nearby Cardrona River provided a visual shield between the entrance pathway and the house. Rectangular steel inserts in the wall allowed light to filter into the hall and master bedroom without sacrificing privacy. </p> <p>A Jacuzzi in a sheltered courtyard offered hydro-therapy to soothe the nerves. It was quite surreal to soak in the pool surrounded by mid-summer snow on the peaks and ranges, the aftermath of an unseasonal ‘weather bomb’.</p> <p>Nearby, a table and chairs with a large shady umbrella was an ideal spot for alfresco dining.</p> <p>I liked to sit on the swing suspended from the terrace roof at the front of the house and watch the antics of the alpacas in the paddock next door. Hand-feeding the quizzical creatures provided a welcome distraction from wedding preparations.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-14503 no-display appear lazyloaded" src="https://travelmemo-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/wanaka-new-zealand-alpaca.jpg" alt="Alpacas in Wanaka New Zealand" width="500" height="NaN" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Is it feeding time?</em></p> <p>I also loved exploring the stunning collection of sculpture Hall, an enthusiastic supporter of New Zealand art, had scattered around her 4-hectare property. Large sculptures were cleverly placed outside to catch the eye while smaller pieces quietly adorned the interior but did not challenge the dominant feature, the landscape . . . art framed by the windows.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-14484 no-display appear lazyloaded" src="https://travelmemo-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/sculpture-axeman-hannah-kidd.jpg" alt="Axeman Sculpture by Hannah Kidd" width="500" height="NaN" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>The axeman in the orchard at Te Ariki Nui never quite managed to fell the tree. The sculpture is by New Zealander Hannah Kidd</em></p> <p>To the right of the house, Hall has planted an impressive orchard of fruit and nut trees including hazelnuts, plums, peaches, pears, nectarines, redcurrants, cherries, apricots and gooseberries. The trees have to struggle to survive so Central Otago fruit has an intensity of flavour like no other region.</p> <p>And beyond the artworks, orchard and alpacas, a spectacular 360-degree necklace of majestic mountains - Black Peak, the Buchanan Mountains, Mt Maude, Mt Iron, Mt Barker, the Cardrona Mt Pisa Ranges - encircled the house.</p> <p>We seldom ventured into town, which was hectic with mid-summer madness, but spent our time rebonding as a family after too long apart, entertaining guests who had travelled from afar and buzzing to and from the lakeside venue with checklists of things to be done for the marquee wedding. It was like constructing a small village in a bare paddock from scratch, bringing all the infrastructure onsite.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img class="size-full wp-image-14504 no-display appear lazyloaded" src="https://travelmemo-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/wanaka-wedding-venue.jpg" alt="The Olive Grove wedding venue Lake Wanaka" width="500" height="NaN" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>The Olive Grove wedding venue overlooking Lake Wanaka</em></p> <p>That’s when our friends at JUCY Rentals came to the party, literally. The vehicle rental agency had offered us a generous bulk deal so JUCYs were out in force, ferrying people and equipment to the venue. Our eight-seater JUCY wagon was invaluable as a people, drinks and flowers-mover.</p> <p>And at the end of a busy day, soaking in the spa pool under the stars at Te Ariki Nui, was a magical way to unwind. Lounging amid the bubbles with a glass of bubbles was sheer bliss.</p> <p>Te Ariki Nui certainly lived up to its name – translated from the Maori language, it means “Above all others”.</p> <p>FACTBOX</p> <p>*Te Ariki Nui is an ideal base for pre- and post-wedding events and holidays at any time of the year. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a rel="noopener" href="http://www.tearikinui.nz/" target="_blank">www.tearikinui.nz/</a></strong></span></p> <p>*Pick up a JUCY Rental at Queenstown Airport and drive to Wanaka - 60 minutes over the Crown Range or 90 minutes via the Kawarau Gorge, both magnificent scenic experiences. The convenience of being able to pick up a vehicle at Queenstown Airport and drop it off in Christchurch, Wellington or Auckland makes JUCY a super-convenient choice for travellers arriving from overseas. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a rel="noopener" href="http://www.jucy.co.nz/" target="_blank">www.jucy.co.nz</a></strong></span></p> <p>* Air New Zealand flies daily to Queenstown from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch with connections available across the domestic network. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a rel="noopener" href="http://www.airnewzealand.co.nz/" target="_blank">www.airnewzealand.co.nz</a></strong></span></p> <p><em>Written by Justine Tyerman. Republished with the permission of <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a rel="noopener" href="http://travelmemo.com/" target="_blank">Travelmemo.com</a></strong></span></em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Cruising one of the world's most remote places

<p>We left sight of shore 12 days ago. We <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://youtu.be/YvmnF6kI8Xc?list=PLGqH8pjT46hTwD5pWZ2XCaIme6w7CWUZx" target="_blank">bobbed and swayed through the Southern Ocean</a></strong></span> and finally the jagged peaks of the Admiralty Range came into view. The captain slowly navigated us through the sea ice closer and closer to Cape Adare and the continent of Antarctica.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.ottsworld.com/blogs/how-to-cruise-to-antarctica/" target="_blank">I had been to Antarctic Peninsula</a></strong></span> before, but this was different. This time I journeyed through the Southern Ocean from New Zealand arriving at historic Cape Adare on East Antarctica – the route of the famous explorers. Cook, Ross, Borchgrevink, Mawson, Scott, and Shackleton all made this same journey through the Southern Ocean multiple times to go deeper into Terra Australis incognita – the unknown southern land.</p> <p>And now, here I am following in their wake, <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.ottsworld.com/blogs/cruising-to-eastern-antarctica-heritage-expeditions/" target="_blank">an Antarctica route few people take</a></strong></span>. Approximately 40,000 tourists visit Antarctica each year, and only 500 of them come through the Southern Ocean to the Ross Sea.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/m/b/o/7/1/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1mbjuv.png/1508273973605.jpg" alt="Coulman Island's reflection." class="photoborder"/></p> <p>In 1841 Sir James Clark Ross was the first to enter what is now known as the Ross Sea and discovered Ross island as well as the Ross Ice Shelf, Mount Erebus and Mount Terror (both named after his ships). If you want to get a feel for the explorers of old and what they went through, then East Antarctica is where you want to be. The history on this part of the continent is plentiful.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/m/b/o/o/6/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1mbjuv.png/1508273973605.jpg" alt="Islands in the Ross Sea." class="photoborder"/></p> <p><strong>Eastern Antarctica</strong></p> <p>Much like the explorers of old struggled to get to land (or sometimes escape) due to pack ice, so did we. The ice is different every year and the storms blow it around making many areas unreachable.</p> <p>There is nothing guaranteed when you come to East Antarctica … nothing. We were unable to even get into McMurdo Sound (location of the historic Scott and Shackleton huts as well as US Research Base) due to miles and miles of unusual pack ice that blocked any entry into the sound. It would have required an icebreaker and days of slow navigation. We also struggled to land at historic Cape Adare (we tried twice). We were first foiled by dense sea ice, and then a week later by <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/wxfacts/Katabatic-winds.htm" target="_blank">katabatic winds</a></strong></span>. Instead we finally had to be satisfied with anchoring and simply experiencing Cape Adare from the ship.</p> <p>However, we were able to get to places the ship normally doesn't get to due to atypical summer weather patterns. We landed at Inexpressible Island and were able to go around Coulman Island as well as the Balleny Islands – lands that are normally iced in, but this year they were open.</p> <p>With the ship at anchor the expedition team took zodiacs to land with the 48 passengers in them. Sometimes we ended up extremely wet simply trying to get out of the zodiac. But it was worth it; every landing we accomplished in Antarctica was full of history of the explorers who came before us, or full of penguins!</p> <p> <strong>Ross Sea Landings</strong></p> <p>The Ross Sea is the most pristine area of anywhere on the planet. After Sir James Clark Ross crossed the Antarctic Circle in 1841, it took him 11 days before he saw land again (it took us 1 day!).</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/m/b/o/o/7/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1mbjuv.png/1508273973605.jpg" alt="Deep in the wilderness." class="photoborder"/></p> <p>He made his first two landings on islands we went to on this trip, Possession Island and Franklin Island. We really did follow in his footsteps, and even though it was modern day exploring, it was still as unpredictable and challenging as ever.</p> <p><strong>Possession Islands</strong></p> <p>We cruised into the Ross Sea and anchored among icebergs at Possession Island. Discovered by Sir Ross, these small, rugged, and rarely visited islands lie off the shore of Cape Hallett and are surrounded by views of the Admiralty Mountains.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/m/b/o/o/5/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1mbjuv.png/1508273973605.jpg" alt="The raw beauty of the Antarctic." class="photoborder"/></p> <p>The surf was too strong and steep to land on the island, instead we zodiac cruised around icebergs and observed the giant Adelie Penguin colony that had rookeries way high up onto the steep cliffs of the island. Penguins dove around our zodiacs and the sun dipped low, but never below the horizon as we cruised late into the night with the midnight sun.</p> <p><strong>Coulman Island</strong></p> <p>We continued south down the coast around <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coulman_Island" target="_blank">Coulman Island</a></strong></span>. We had the rare opportunity to go through the channel between the continent and Coulman Island – a first for everyone on the ship including our veteran Captain and Expedition Leader who have been coming to the Ross Sea for 20 years!</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/m/b/o/o/3/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1mbjuv.png/1508273973605.jpg" alt="A seal says hi." class="photoborder"/></p> <p>As we rounded the island the breeze died down and we had a perfectly flat Ross Sea, leaving us stunning mirror reflections of the island. After coming through such rough seas to get here, I never imagined this pure, flat Ross Sea in Antarctica – it was a bit eerie. After dinner I headed out on the decks to soak up some 11pm sun as we slowly made our way through the slushy pack ice while viewing leopard seals and a few lone Emperor penguins on icebergs.</p> <p><strong>Inexpressible Island</strong></p> <p>We had the rare opportunity to do a landing on Inexpressible Island (formerly Evans Cove), an island full of boulders, history, stunning views, and penguin rookeries. Six men of Scott's Northern Party were trapped on this island for an entire winter with only 3 weeks of food supplies.</p> <p>They miraculously survived the winter by building an ice cave and eating seal and penguin. In November, they then hiked hundreds of miles back to hut point to join their expedition party who had presumed them all dead. As I looked at this harsh landscape, the historic plaque, and the little plot of land where their cave used to be, it sent shivers through my body. The human spirit to survive is a miraculous thing.</p> <p>I asked our expedition leader's opinion on if I should hike the ridge or go see penguins – as I really only had time to do one. "I can get you penguins again, but I can't get you a view like what's at the top again." Done – I would hike the ridge.</p> <p>My legs and lungs burned as they got used to moving and 'working' again after being confined on the ship for a few weeks. The views of the Priestly Glacier and mountains were one of a kind. I sat on a boulder and wondered how to interpret the name 'Inexpressible'. Inexpressibly bad or inexpressibly beautiful? Regardless, like all of Antarctica, it's a land of extremes.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/m/b/o/o/b/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1mbjuv.png/1508273973605.jpg" alt="On the edge of the world." class="photoborder"/></p> <p><strong>Gondwana in Terra Nova Bay</strong></p> <p>With Mt. Melbourne looking over us, we arrived in Terra Nova Bay early in the morning. Named after the 1910-13 British Antarctic Expedition, the iceberg filled bay has more human activity than most areas around the Ross Sea thanks to research bases located there.</p> <p>I woke up to horizontal clouds, like a zebra striped sky as the zodiac left the ship and headed to shore at Gondwana. It was a momentous occasion as I stepped off the zodiac this morning and onto land – <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/OttsworldTravel/videos/vl.830318980448845/1296091410481760/?type=1" target="_blank">it was our first official landing on the continent</a></strong></span>. And as expected, it felt like the first steps on the moon; rocky, cold, and desolate. Houston – can you hear me?!</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/m/b/o/o/4/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1mbjuv.png/1508273973605.jpg" alt="Franklin Island - home to a large Adelie Penguin colony." class="photoborder"/></p> <p>We had 3 hours to explore around the area so I hiked around the old German Base which is currently not in use. It was small, cute, and functional – but sad to see no one utilising it. There was even a little sauna perched out on the rocks near the bay, complete with a balcony overlooking the rocky coast. I looked in the one dirty window. There were a few sentences scribbled on the door with a marker that I could barely make out. It read, "The best sauna view in the universe! " There was a little part of me that wanted to stay at this empty base and make it a summer home – sauna and all!</p> <p><strong>Italian Base in the Terra Nova Bay</strong></p> <p>"Bongiourno! Welcome to Baia Terra Nova," the tall man said as he extended his hand as we got off the zodiacs.</p> <p>For the first time, we had human beings greeting us as we landed. We visited the Italian Summer Research Station. The Stazione Mario Zucchelli started in 1985 and currently has 87 people living/working there from October to February.</p> <p>They welcomed us with Italian coffee and showed us around the base for the afternoon. It was strange to suddenly be thrust back into civilisation with helicopters flying overhead, but fun to see this side of Antarctica.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/m/b/o/o/2/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1mbjuv.png/1508273973605.jpg" alt="Rush hour on Franklin Island." class="photoborder"/></p> <p><strong>Franklin Island</strong></p> <p>This rugged island, deep in the Ross Sea, is home to a large Adelie Penguin colony and other nesting seabirds and sleeping Weddell Seals.</p> <p>We landed there early in the morning and immediately were assaulted by the smell of guano (penguin poop), which will wake you up faster than an espresso in the morning! We were given 3.5 hours to simply roam around this giant rookery with thousands upon thousands of penguins.</p> <p>The biggest commodity in Antarctica is time. Having the chance to simply sit for hours and observe the penguins was a real luxury.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/m/b/o/o/1/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1mbjuv.png/1508273973605.jpg" alt="Ridely Beach and the historic huts." class="photoborder"/></p> <p>Feathers were flying in the air like snow since the older chicks were still moulting and getting ready to go out to sea. There were also younger fluffy chicks in the colony who were <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://youtu.be/XK5Cyc4bZoM?list=PLGqH8pjT46hTwD5pWZ2XCaIme6w7CWUZx" target="_blank">entertaining to watch as they chased adults for food</a></strong></span>.</p> <p>The adults basically regurgitate food and feed that to the chicks, a fascinating process to watch, and even a little gross at times. I must have looked like a giant penguin as I had a little curious chick follow me around for a while (<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://youtu.be/GEiy1thlQAk" target="_blank">watch for yourself!</a></strong></span>), I had fantasises about taking him home, but I think all he really wanted was some regurgitated food which I wasn't about to provide! This was one of my favourite stops as walking and sitting among penguins just leaves you awestruck.</p> <p><strong>Cape Adare’s Ridley Beach</strong></p> <p>The ice maps looked positive, there was a big storm that pushed all of the ice out of Cape Adare in the last few days so we came back up to North to try a landing one more time at Ridley Beach. It's the sight of the largest Adelie Penguin rookery in Antarctica, over one million birds.</p> <p>But beyond birds, this beach is filled with history. It is the home of Borchgrevink's Hut, the oldest in Antarctica, used for the first expedition to the Antarctic continent in 1899. Cape Adare is also the first place people set foot on the continent back in 1895.</p> <p>The pack ice was indeed gone from the area however, as we neared Cape Adare we ran into a snowstorm and heavy winds. The captain navigated through iceberg alley in low visibility and big swells. As we turned the corner into Robinson Bay we suddenly were protected by the wind and the sea became calm. However, the waves were still too strong to do a landing, but we all enjoyed views of the huts and the Adelie Penguin colony from the decks of the ship as clouds loomed overhead.</p> <p><strong>Balleny Islands</strong></p> <p>"More people have summited Everest than have seen these islands," said Rodney our Expedition Leader as we laid eyes on the rarely seen Balleny Islands. Normally surrounded by pack ice, it's typically impossible to get near the 3 islands that make up the Balleny's, but this season they were completely clear of ice.</p> <p>Louis Bernacchi, sailing past the Ballenys in 1899 on the southern Cross Expeditions wrote: "I can imagine no greater punishment than to be left alone to live forgotten and die forlorn on that desolate shore."</p> <p>The islands are basically blanketed in feet upon feet of snow and glaciers making them look a bit like a giant meringue pavlova dessert. Around the steepest cliffs, the snow cover had broken off and left bits of rock exposed. It was hard to get perspective on this immense snowy landscape. But it left us all in awe as we slowly cruised by the islands.</p> <p>We explored everything we possibly could in the Ross Sea with our available time. The unpredictability of the weather and ice dictated our itinerary each day just like the explorers of old had to contend with. But no matter where we went, we all knew that very few people get the opportunity to see this part of the world, which made every landing and experience special beyond belief!</p> <p><strong>How to get to the Ross Sea Antarctica</strong></p> <p><em>Heritage Expeditions is one of the few companies that offer expedition cruises into the Ross Sea. </em></p> <p><em>This small family-owned company has been doing it the longest and know the area better than anyone. I cruised for 28 days on the <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.heritage-expeditions.com/trip/ross-sea-january-10-2018/" target="_blank">Wake of Scott and Shackleton Itinerary.</a></span></strong></em></p> <p><em>Sherry Ott is a blogger and photographer. "I travel to off-the-beaten-path destinations to bring you unique travel experiences, adventures, and photography from around the globe." Her website is <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.ottsworld.com/" target="_blank">ottsworld.com</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em>Written by Sherry Ott. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;">co.nz</span></strong></a>. </em></p>

Cruising

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10 outback getaways offering comfort and style

<p>Not so long ago, comfort and style weren't synonymous with an outback destination or experience. Fortunately for those who like their creature comforts and have a sense of adventure, there is an increasing number of destinations off the beaten track that provide everything the most discerning traveller expects.</p> <p>To be sure, the accommodation isn't always five stars but the astonishing locations and hospitality are ample compensation.</p> <p>Here are 10 of the best destinations in Australia that handle remoteness in style.</p> <p><strong>1. Angorichina Station – Flinders Ranges, SA</strong></p> <p>Australia has few family-operated farm-stay properties that successfully blend comfort, history, scenery, style, activities and interaction with the owners in a memorable package. Ian and Di Fargher achieve this brilliantly on their 64,000-hectare sheep station in the Flinders Ranges. Angorichina is situated superbly in a stunning landscape, 10 minutes' drive from the village of Blinman, 500 kilometres north of Adelaide and within easy access of Wilpena Pound. The Farghers treat every guest with genuine warmth and invite them to witness everyday station activities as well as learn about indigenous links with the land from an Aboriginal guide. There are two guest rooms: one in the 1860s homestead, the other in a separate cottage.</p> <p><strong>2. Bamurru Plains – Top End, NT</strong></p> <p>A 20-minute flight east of Darwin on the Mary River floodplain, this working buffalo property ripples with wildlife and offers guests abundant creature comforts. Voted best leisure property in Australasia-South Pacific by readers of Britain's Conde Nast Traveller magazine last year, Bamurru is modelled on Africa's best safari camps. Its nine safari suites are surrounded by the sights and sounds of the bush, especially tens of thousands of magpie geese, after which the camp is named. There are safari activities, including river cruises, meals are included and Kakadu is close by. There are no phones or television, so be prepared to leave the outside world behind.</p> <p><strong>3. Birdsville Hotel – Birdsville, Qld</strong></p> <p>You don't come to the outback's quintessential pub just for the accommodation. This 1884 National Trust-listed stone pub has a quirky and always entertaining front bar and enough all-round appeal to make it a great experience. There are plenty of sights in and around Birdsville, too, including the Big Red sandhill that provides symbolic access to the Simpson Desert, a fascinating museum, the easily traversed (but not in the wet) 517-kilometre Birdsville Track to Marree, South Australia, and plenty of ancient and early European history. The place is swamped during the Birdsville Races on the first weekend of September.</p> <p><strong>4. Bullo River Station – Top End, NT</strong></p> <p>One of author Sara Henderson's daughters, Marlee, and her husband, Franz Ranacher, have turned 200,000-hectare Bullo River Station - the focal point of several of Henderson's best-selling books - into a wonderful, in-the-wild tourism experience. The accommodation in guest quarters close to the homestead is comfortable without being five star but the experience, near the mouth of the Victoria River, is: crocodile spotting, barramundi fishing, rock art viewing, exploring, helicopter trips to remote gorges and more. Bullo is about a two-hour flight south-west of Darwin near the Western Australia border, or can be reached from the Victoria Highway (80 kilometres on a dirt road, 4WD dry season only), and is 200 kilometres from Kununurra.</p> <p><strong>5. Bush Camp at Faraway Bay – East Kimberley, WA</strong></p> <p>Few remote wilderness experiences match Bruce and Robyn Ellison's bush camp, on the rugged tip of Western Australia. Fly-in, fly-out (April to November) over King George Falls to a spectacular Timor Sea cliff-top setting. Excellent food and absolute relaxation around a rustic central lodge with swimming pool are the order of the day. Accommodation in private cabins is comfortable rather than luxurious but the total experience and friendly hosts are what make this destination so special.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="498" height="280" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/33482/image__498x280.jpg" alt="Image_ (70)"/></p> <p><strong>6. Cradle Mountain Lodge – Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair NP, Tas</strong></p> <p>This is a spectacular tract of wilderness, barely two hours' drive from Launceston. The lodge, in the national park, adds a touch of style to a world-class experience, especially when the weather turns sour - as it often does - at an altitude of more than 1500 metres. A three-hour walk to spectacular and much-photographed Dove Lake, 950 metres above sea level, is a must. There are four standards of private cabin accommodation, topped by luxurious spa suites. Meals are prepared in the rustic central lodge before and after you've ventured out walking, canoeing, fishing, biking or wildlife viewing.</p> <p><strong>7. Davidson's Arnhemland Safaris – Mount Borradaile, NT</strong></p> <p>Former buffalo hunter Max Davidson stumbled across the Mount Borradaile site in the 1980s and, with the co-operation of its traditional owners, he has a wildlife and indigenous tourism experience like no other, basic accommodation and facilities notwithstanding. The wildlife, birdlife, rock art galleries, bush tucker walks, Aboriginal culture and the astonishing Arnhem Land landscape draw travellers back on repeat visits.</p> <p><strong>8. El Questro Wilderness Retreat – East Kimberley, WA</strong></p> <p>With the orange-coloured Cockburn Ranges as a backdrop and just an hour's drive west of Kununurra, El Questro has a range of accommodation: the simple luxury of the homestead, perched high above Chamberlain Gorge; comfortable tented cabins in Emma Gorge with their own restaurant; and bungalows or camping by the Pentecost River. In keeping with the price tag, homestead guests usually fly in, take helicopter tours and live it up. More budget-conscious travellers drive from Kununurra and explore independently, on and off the station.</p> <p><strong>9. Freycinet Lodge – Freycinet NP, Tasmania</strong></p> <p>Midway on Tasmania's east coast, Freycinet Peninsula is home to the perfectly formed Wineglass Bay and a rugged, beautiful coastline. The eponymous lodge inside Freycinet National Park has a pristine, idyllic bayside waterfront location, four types of comfortable private cabins, a better-than-average restaurant plus bistro, as well as abundant wildlife, walks and water activities. Spring to autumn is the best time to visit.</p> <p><strong>10. Grand Hotel – Mildura, Victoria</strong></p> <p>This historic hotel began as a coffee house during prohibition in the 1890s. It is now a magnet for food and wine lovers drawn to the enterprises of Mr Mildura - cook and A Gondola On The Murray host Stefano di Pieri. Stefano's restaurant, a cafe bakery with food store and Mildura brewery pub are part of the hotel. Accommodation ranges from average to a palatial presidential suite with marble bathroom. But it's Stefano's degustation menu and great bluestone cellar atmosphere that, rightfully, draw the crowds.</p> <p><em>Written by Paul Meyers. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/11/the-strangest-town-in-australia/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>This might be the strangest town in Australia</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/12/anne-sinclair-on-discovering-the-sapphire-gemfields/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Discovering Queensland’s Sapphire Gemfields</strong></em></span></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international/2016/12/the-small-town-that-australia-forgot/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>The small town that Australia forgot</strong></em></span></a></p>

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